2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Geno Facchetti, OLB, Franklin Pierce University

• Name: Geno Facchetti
• Position: OLB
• College: Franklin Pierce University
• Height: 6′ 2″
• Weight: 235 lbs
• X: @facchettigeno
• Instagram: @geno_facchetti

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

So ever since I was young I was always surrounded by football players and you know growing up with kids always playing football. Watching highlights of guys like Barry Sanders and Luke Kuechly growing up always made me want to play the linebacker position but I did step away from football for a good period of my life and started back playing again in my junior year of high school. I actually took a break and played soccer from middle school to the first years of high school but again just watching those guys like Luke Kuechly and Fred Warner growing up just made me want to be a linebacker.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

I would say one of my favorite moments was catching a pick six my sophomore year of college. That was one of my favorite moments.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

I always look to see what I am able to accomplish next and at this point in my life, I believe I can play at that next level on Sundays, being able to contribute to a team in any way possible is what I believe I am capable of. So as of right now playing at that next level, the highest level.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

I would hang out with Luke Kuechly because I’ve been watching videos of him breaking down plays that he’s made and a podcast that he’s been on. I could sit down for hours and just listen to him talking football.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

I would say my father. He’s been with me throughout my whole life. He supported me in all the different kinds of sports growing up regardless of whether it was football, wrestling or the moment of my life when I was playing soccer for a while. He’s always been there to support me every single game since I remember I would say he’s been there. He’s been an inspiration to have me keep going forward and be the best version of myself that I can possibly be and the best football player I can possibly be. 

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

I would say the 3-4 defense. I think you can be able to transition and shift that defense to kind of manipulate it into what you want every single week in and out. If you have athletic outside linebackers, you can play them off the edge, you can have them be like a hybrid safety, you can maneuver the defensive line and linebacker to have an all gas fit in the run, You can put in different packages. I just think there’s so many things you can do with the 3-4 that makes that the perfect defense. And I’m a little biased because that’s what I play in right now and I’m the weak side outside linebacker but to me it feels like the perfect defense because everything just aligns more perfectly for the run and you can have athletic guys on the strong side of the field and inside that can play the pass and I just think overall that it is the perfect defense. 

What should we know about Geno Facchetti the person?

For me I will always be the most hard-working individual. Ever since I was a young kid I think I’ve always been given the bad hand, I feel like I’ve always been that guy that’s had to work harder than everyone else to be where I am now and I’m glad for it every single day. I pray for adversity and I think that’s made me the man that I am today. I’ve never been the biggest guy, the strongest guy or the fastest guy but the work I put in during the offseason and even during the season, I think has made me the player that I am able to look adversity in the eyes and take it with a smile. I’m always going to be that hard-working guy that no matter what, and I think that my film shows that and my stats throughout every single year progressing have showed that.

What stands out about your film the most?

I would say my effort like I said sometimes I’m not the biggest guy out there, sometimes I’m not the strongest but if I’m completely on the other side of the field you will always see me completely fly around and I will always be around the play no matter what I think my effort shows that. And on my film, there’s plays where I’ve had to chase down a break away run where I’ve faced it from the opposite hash. There are boots that are going from the opposite way and I’m chasing him down from behind. You know every single play I’m giving it my hundred percent effort.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

I pray for adversity every single day. I welcome it. I think it makes me a stronger man and a stronger person and an even better person. I’ve kind of had to do it my whole life. I’m not that guy that folds under pressure I’m able to organize myself and able to use it as a strengthening tool like if I’ve made mistakes or failed at something that I’m going to take it as a learning opportunity like if I fail at a rep I’m always trying. Like it will bother me the whole rest of the day, but I will stay after practice and work on it and then until I get that next rep like a one-on-one pass rep if I lose it I’ll come back the next day and if I lose it again, I’ll come back the next day, just keep going until I win it and I think that facing adversity has made me the man that I am today.

What would a team get in a player like you?

A guy that is out here to be the best. My mindset has always been I am the best on the field at all times. i am the guy that is going to work harder than everyone else on the field at all times. I’m a guy that’s going to be relentless and have high energy and effort at all times on the field. A team would have a guy like me that would have that fire and drive that i don’t think that anyone else on that field will have. Obviously would put my efforts towards special teams on punt and kickoff returns. Just getting those opportunities I think it will show that I think my effort and hard work just stands above everyone else because that’s what I’ve had to do my whole life  

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love being around the guys I’ve made friendships and lifetime friendships here with. I think being able to play out with them like have them be right next to me on the side while we’re in the box and on the field and having them by my side and looking back at all the work that we put in together over this offseason being able to play with them. And see their success and the success they have had and the work that they have put in and we have put in together has been showing for them as well. It’s truly an awesome thing to see your buddy come day in and day out with you through the whole season and to see him have success on the field and have him get opportunities. I think it’s a very cool thing being able to play with guys that you are going to have lifetime relationships with.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

My freshman year our running back EJ Burgess was the previous NE10 player of the year and he was getting looks from the Commanders and teams like that, it didn’t go away with his senior year, but he was dealing with injuries and kind of some setbacks. But he was probably one of the best players i have ever played against going against in scout reps and he was an amazing pass blocker and was obviously able to run the ball, have that cutting ability and agility on change of direction that I’ve never seen or played against.