National Football Foundation

A remarkably focused student-athlete, Matt Costello excelled in all aspects of high school, producing a resume that won universal admiration from his peers, teachers and coaches at Everett High School and throughout Eastern Massachusetts. 

"I have had the pleasure of coaching Matt for the past four years," said Everett head coach John DiBiaso. "During this period, Matt has excelled as a player, a student and most of all, as a person. Matt is genuinely a great kid and makes for a perfect recipient of this fine award." 

Costello started three years at wide receiver and defensive back, and he was selected to the Boston Globe All-Division Team and All-Scholastic Team. The two time all-league honoree broke a state single-season record with 23 touchdown grabs, and he was named to the Massachusetts State Football Coaches All-State and the Boston Herald All-Scholastic teams as a senior. The most prolific receiver in Everett history, he holds school records for receptions and touchdown grabs. He earned honors as the Massachusetts' Gatorade Player of the Year while helping Everett to three consecutive league titles. A Mr. Football nominee by ESPN Boston, Costello played in the Shriners Football Classic, a high school all-star game for players hailing from Eastern Massachusetts. 

Claiming a 4.52 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, Costello graduated sixth out of 385 students at Everett. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Students Initiating Change and the Italian Club. He worked as a peer tutor and spent his summers coaching younger kids at the Everett Recreation Center. He was also an ambassador with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association. A versatile athlete, Costello also excelled in basketball and baseball, earning all-star honors in both sports and playing on multiple league championships teams. 

"Matt's football credentials speak for themselves," said NFF Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter board member Ed Schluntz. "Being an All-Scholastic honoree in both Boston papers and also a member of the coaches' all-state team is an incredible achievement." 

A four-year starter at Princeton University, Costello ended his career ranked third on Princeton's all-time receptions list (154), and fourth on the all-time receiving yards list (1,721). He is currently a corporate sales intern for the St. Louis Rams.