But while Reilly could only dream about meeting those NFL players, the picture of the ballboy from Marlton and the high school star on his way to Penn State was even better inspiration.

He wasn't larger than life. He was down to earth. He was from South Jersey, too, a hometown hero who took the time to talk with a 10-year-old with big eyes and bigger hopes.

"Years went by and I'd look at this picture in my room and realize that this is the type of kid I want to be when I grow up," said Reilly, a recent graduate of Holy Cross who set a South Jersey record for career touchdown passes.

The high school athlete in the photograph was Adam Taliaferro. He had just won the Defensive MVP award for the New Jersey team in the Governor's Bowl all-star football game at West Point.

It was July 13, 2000. Taliaferro had just graduated from Eastern and was named The Inquirer's all-area player of the year after rushing for 1,584 yards and scoring 28 touchdowns for the Vikings.

He was leaving in two days for Penn State.

He was 10 weeks away from a collision on the football field in Columbus, Ohio, that would change his life forever.

On Thursday night at Rowan University, Taliaferro and Reilly will be together again. Taliaferro will be on the sideline, and Reilly will be on the field as quarterback of the Blue team in the annual Adam Taliaferro Foundation/South Jersey Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.

"It is pretty cool that Tommy has that picture from when I played, and now he's playing in our All-Star Game," Taliaferro said.

"I remember taking the picture with Tommy. I had just gotten the MVP award for the game, and I was walking to see my family. I think it was Tommy's grandfather who asked me to take a picture with him.

"I was honored because as a high school kid I was rarely asked to take pictures, so I thought it was pretty cool that someone wanted to take a picture with me."

In the Governor's Bowl, Taliaferro was an athlete at another level. He dominated the game as a defensive back, forcing one fumble, recovering two fumbles and registering two interceptions. He returned one interception for a touchdown.

Everybody realized Penn State was getting this great player, this future star, this potential pro.

But Reilly, who served as a ballboy for the New Jersey team, along with the son of Tom Maderia, then the Holy Cross coach, remembers something else besides Taliaferro's play.

"He was all over the field," Reilly said. "But the thing that struck me was that he took the time to talk to me after my grandfather took the picture. He asked me my name. He didn't have to do that and he just stood there and talked with me.

"I didn't even know who he was. Afterward, my grandfather told me he was this great defensive back who was going to Penn State.

"When I look back, I realize what kind of person he was to give a kid like me his time."

Ten weeks later, Taliaferro suffered a broken neck in that game at Ohio State. Given a slim chance to walk, he made a remarkable recovery and jogged on the field for Penn State's home opener in September 2001.

Taliaferro graduated from Penn State. Last month, he graduated from Rutgers School of Law.

"He's a walking miracle," Reilly said.

Reilly kept the photograph in his room. He was a star as a youth football player in Marlton, then went to Holy Cross and set the South Jersey record with 64 career touchdown passes.

Last season, Reilly passed for 1,752 yards and 24 TDs as Holy Cross won the Non-Public 2 state championship. But Reilly missed the title game after suffering a broken foot in a Thanksgiving weekend game against rival Moorestown.

"It was really hard, but I was so proud of my teammates," Reilly said.

Reilly said he's likely to red-shirt his freshman year at Marist University because of the lingering effects of his injury. But he is recovered enough to play Thursday night, and he'll have a famous fan on the sideline.

"I had a chance to talk to Tommy last month at the press conference for the game, and he showed me the picture, and I couldn't believe it," Taliaferro said. "It made me feel old, seeing how young he was back then, and now he is a big-time quarterback.

"Just from talking to him for 10 minutes I could tell he was a great kid, and I've heard he's an even better football player.

"It's a honor for me to be able to provide some inspiration to guys like Tommy, but I am thankful for all the kids including Tommy, for coming out and making the game something special for everyone involved."

or panastasia@phillynews.com.