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Jon Loyte sidelines outdoor game for now to give arena his best shot
The former college tight end has had tryouts with two NFL teams.
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — It might be worth the price of admission to see Kelly Pavlik at the book signing during Friday’s Mahoning Valley Thunder game, but it might also be worth the price of admission to see lineman Jon Loyte.
Loyte is a former Boston College tight end who brings a 24-year-old’s enthusiasm to the af2 wars.
Plus, he fits the description of an arena player: Natural tight end who will play defensive end and fullback.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Loyte’s last game was in the Champs Sports Bowl two years ago when he played for BC.
The 2008 graduate joins such prominent BC alumni as: Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill, Jr., former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; novelist George V. Higgins, MTV Networks president Herb Scannell, NFL quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Matt Hasselbeck, actor Chris O’Donnell and Saturday Night Live cast member Amy Poehler.
Last week’s game against the Albany Firebirds was his first in af2.
He made his first start — playing defensive end — as did quarterback Brad Roach and defensive backs Patrick Wells and Ryan Greiser.
“I didn’t play this past season,” said Loyte, who attended NFL camps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills after college.
He was supposed to play for a spring league but it was cancelled.
“I was just working out, then got a call for the Thunder,” Loyte said of joining the Thunder with 68.75 percent of the season in the books.
Previously, Loyte’s football was outdoors, mostly as tight end, but he also played defensive end his freshman year of college at Vanderbilt.
After two years for the Commodores, Loyte transferred to BC for his final three seasons.
Although he’ll play behind starting defensive end Tim Cheatwood, Loyte, wearing No. 99, will also fill in along the defensive line to spell Mike Alston or Larry Harrison.
“I’m trying to get used to things,” Loyte said. “Every play and everyday I feel like I get a little better. I started off a little slow [at Albany], then toward the end, I felt more comfortable. I think it’s just going to get better week after week.”
In Albany, where 11 turnovers hurt Mahoning Valley, Loyte was part of a Thunder unit that was on the field a lot.
“It was pretty tiring, but I’m in pretty good shape.”
Loyte joined the Thunder a few days before its June 5 game in Milwaukee against the Iron, but he only practiced twice that week.
“I didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee, really, because I didn’t know what I was doing, so they didn’t want to get me out there and get hurt.”
Although Loyte shows explosiveness at the position, he still has to adjust to af2’s speed.
“For me, it’s working on my pass rush and getting comfortable with it. Instead of bull-rushing the whole time, I’ll work on my outside pass rush. I’m pretty quick for a guy 270, so I feel I can bring that, plus a little bit of power. It should go a lot smoother this week.”
bassetti@vindy.com