Pennsville's Saulin rocks on both sides of the ball

For the last three years, Pennsville senior Robbie Saulin has been used to playing both sides of the football and making things doubly difficult for the opposition.

Saulin is 6-foot-6, 260 pounds and plays defensive end and tight end for the Eagles. He impacts the game as much defensively as offensively because of his size and the trust head coach Ryan Wood has in him.

"He has got a little nastiness to him where he is going to get to the ball carrier," Wood said. "Defensively, it is tough to run at him, and it is even tougher to run away from him. He is also a big part of our offense. We play him at tight end, and that gives us the opportunity to still run behind him."

Saulin has embraced the opportunity to play both ways and said he realizes how much it can help the team.

"I always feel like some teams, when they see me, say we have to cover that kid. So I don't really get many balls or targets," Saulin said. "I block a lot, which is good and helps the team out. Once in while if I catch a pass, I catch a pass. I am not really too worried about it."

Saulin and the Eagles will play one of the more interesting games in recent program history on Friday, hosting St. Joseph in a West Jersey Football League cross-over clash.

Saulin and the Eagles are coming off an impressive season in which they won their first sectional title since 1981 with a 28-6 win over Clayton in the South Jersey Group 1 championship game.

Pennsville (3-0) has started this season with wins against Woodstown, Woodbury and Deptford, but the Eagles know it will not be easy to repeat its success.

"Every week is a 50/50 week," Wood said. "You have to show up or you will get beat."

"I feel like we can compete with everybody and don't see any reason why we shouldn't go undefeated," Saulin said. "But if we do happen to lose, we are going to come back stronger than ever."

Saulin committed to play football at the University of Connecticut last spring and has not had any second thoughts on the decision.

"I went up to junior day. Coach talked to me and offered me a scholarship," Saulin said. "I waited a couple weeks, felt things out and then I felt like it was the right place for me."

Saulin will be playing defensive end for UConn and fits perfectly in their 3-4 scheme.

Wood said Saulin has all the tools to make the transition to the collegiate level and thinks he will only get bigger and better.

"He is a tough kid to block," Wood said. "That is why UConn wants him to come play the same spot he is playing for us. He just has a great motor.

"I think you are going to see his development continue to blossom when he gets to the next level. They have outstanding coaches, so he is going to do well."