National Football Foundation

Head coach Joe Moglia says no one works harder or cares more about his teammates than Niccolo Mastromatteo. A dual threat at wide receiver and punter, the Ortonville, Mich., native becomes Coastal Carolina’s first-ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete.

An Academic All-Big South selection in 2012, Mastromatteo was recognized as an FCS Academic All-Star, and he made the College Sports Journal’s FCS All-Academic Team. With his sights set on medical school, he is a four-time member of the President’s list, three-time member of the Big South Presidential Honor Roll and two-time member of the Dean’s List.

An All-Big South performer at two positions for the Chanticleers, Mastromatteo earned first team honors as a punt returner and second team laurels as a wide receiver in 2012 while also garnering second team honors as a punt returner in both 2010 and 2011. Boasting both the longest (91 yards) and third longest (87 yards) punt returns in Big South history, he also recorded the longest reception in CCU history with his 81 yard grab against Gardner-Webb in 2012. The conference and school record-holder for career punt returns (61) and career punt return yards (538), Mastromatteo set the single-season record for punt returns with 32 in 2012, and he tied a Chanticleer single-game record with 10 receptions against Eastern Kentucky. Ranking in the top 10 in almost every career punt/kick return category at CCU, he entered 2013 with 48 receptions for 578 yards and three touchdowns. He has returned 61 punts for 538 yards and two touchdowns and 47 kicks for 995 yards during his career. He has helped CCU to an 8-0 start this season, recording 23 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns while returning 12 punts for 68 yards.

A three-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Mastromatteo has sat on the CCU football team’s Leadership Council for two years. An assistant Little League baseball coach, he also makes time to read to elementary school students on National Literacy Day. Mastromatteo is currently an MBA student at Belmont University in Nashville.