Born to be an Eagle: How Dominic Funke Fulfills a Family Legacy at Boston College

With a 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame, Funke has the mold of a versatile defensive end who is willing to convert to an outside linebacker, or play whichever roll that is asked of him.

Off the field, Funke has his eyes set on attaining a Boston College degree. All of those factors—the defensive coach’s trust in him to play a mix of edge and linebacker depending on the fit, and the educational opportunities of the university—came into play during his recruitment.

In addition to that, playing in close proximity to his hometown, Westwood, and alongside his brother Jack for at least one year comes as added benefits.

Funke had offers from some other semi-local programs like Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Temple, and additional Power Conference institutions such as Wisconsin and Wake Forest, but the decision to keep his talents in the state he was born in eventually felt like a no-brainer.

“I know it’s kind of the perfect spot for me, and I’m very happy to be committed,” Funke said. “I think on my official visit, they say something like over 100 years of NFL and college coaching experience between all their different coaches. So there's definitely a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience, like playing at that highest level which I think will just make me a better player.”

In terms of the transparency O’Brien exhibited when Funke visited BC, he noticed it in the way the second-year head coach of the Eagles treated each and every prospect who attended with him.

“I learned that he really cares about each individual guy,” Funke said. “Like, when we would go around the campus, he would talk to every guy and know everything about them. He's very into the details. My coach, [Al Fornaro], they have very similar coaching styles. They want to bring out the best in each person. I really appreciate that aspect.”

The transparency also applies to what you show on the field and in the weight room each and every day, according to Funke. That is something Fornaro taught him when he first arrived at Xaverian. 

That tough love is what keeps Funke grounded as a player.

“It doesn't matter where you're committed, how many offers you've had, whether you're the third stringer or the starter, he's gonna hold you accountable and call you out,” Funke said. “He pushes you.”

Fornaro had an equal amount of respect for the distinguished player and person Funke has become over the course of his high school career.

The 45-year head coach of Xaverian Brothers called Funke the epitome of a lead-by-example player, and one of the best edge rushers that has ever graced the program’s ranks.

“He stays after practice 15 to 20 minutes, working on fast rest drills and so on,” Fornaro said. “Been one of the most coachable kids we have. He does everything on the workout that I have. Nobody does that. And he's there the longest, because it takes that amount of time.”

Once the lights flicker on come Friday night, or even during an intrateam scrimmage, Funke shows how all the finer details that he stresses, and the extra minutes of practice that he stays for, pay off.

“You never want to say he's the best, because we don’t know who is the best,” Fornaro said. “But he’s one of the best players we've ever had. He brings all the attributes of a tough, smart player who understands the game piece by piece.”