Palladino a building block for Milford football

Keith Jones has always had good linemen during his tenure as the Milford High School football coach.

He hasn’t had many that have exhibited the qualities of senior Kody Palladino.

“One thing we’ve always been is rugged and strong,” Jones said. “But I don’t know if I’ve ever had anyone with his athletic ability, with his feet, at that size.”

Palladino, the Spartans’ returning center, enters his third year as a varsity starter, and along with returning quarterback Max Urda, gives Milford a nice combo at two of the most important spots on offense.

“It’s a great one-two tandem, the center and the quarterback,” Jones said. “We’ve got seven or eight kids who played varsity football last year and both sides of the ball. The kids we’re replacing are pretty good kids, but we’re replacing them with quality.”

And in Palladino, Jones has a player who could end up being quite a steal for the right college. A little undersized for a lineman at an FCS school, Palladino’s family history could lead to him gaining a couple of inches in height by the time he’d be ready to see game action.

“The good thing for him is that the majority of his family grew another four inches when they turned 19,” Jones said. “If he could get that, all of a sudden, if he redshirts, it’s ‘wow, where did this kid come from?’

“He’s been to a couple prospect camps over the summer. He’s had some different interests from different people.”

Palladino has also helped carry on the lifting culture among Milford’s linemen, taking some of the younger players under his wing and encouraging them to get into the weight room early.

“We’ve got kids that like to lift,” Jones said. “(Sophomore Michael) Boucher is a great example. He hasn’t left Kody’s side since November. They lift every day.”