James Guarantano
{{short description|American gridiron football player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name =
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| birth_place = Lodi, New Jersey, U.S.
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| position1 = Wide receiver
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| college = Rutgers
| playing_years1 = 1993
| playing_team1 = San Diego Chargers
| playing_years2 = 1994–1997
| playing_team2 = Baltimore Stallions
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}}
James Guarantano is a former American football wide receiver for the NFL's San Diego Chargers and the CFL's Baltimore Stallions. He was also a former standout wide receiver while playing college football at Rutgers University.
Raised in Lodi, New Jersey, Guarantano played prep football at Lodi High School.[https://scarletknights.com/honors/rutgers-athletics-hall-of-fame/james-jim-guarantano/87 James "Jim" Guarantano], Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame. Accessed August 12, 2022. "Guarantano came to Rutgers after an outstanding scholastic career at Lodi High School."
College career
Guarantano played for Rutgers from 1989 to 1992.
In the 1991 season, Guarantano collected 740 yards, on 62 receptions, which was tops in the Big East.{{Cite web |title=The Daily Collegian Online |url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1992/10/10-02-92tdc/10-02-92dsports-9.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525093647/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1992/10/10-02-92tdc/10-02-92dsports-9.asp |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=January 31, 2009}} That was highlighted by a game against Temple on November 17, 1991, when Rutgers clinched its first winning season in four years. Guarantano caught a 70-yard touchdown pass, allowing the Scarlet Knights to finish with a 6–5 record, their first winning season since going 6–5 in 1987.{{cite web |title=COLLEGE FOOTBALL: EAST; Rutgers Beats Temple for a Winning Season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/17/sports/college-football-east-rutgers-beats-temple-for-a-winning-season.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 26, 2021 |date=November 17, 1991}} Following the season, he was named to the All Big East Second-team.
Guarantano would follow that up in 1992 with 56 receptions for 755 yards (13.5 yards per catch) and six touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came in a dramatic victory over Pittsburgh on September 18, 1992. Guarantano caught a 33-yard score to send Rutgers to a 7–0 halftime lead, and Rutgers would go on to win 21–16.{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=William N. |title=FOOTBALL; For Rutgers, an Evening and a Victory to Remember |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/18/sports/football-for-rutgers-an-evening-and-a-victory-to-remember.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 26, 2021 |date=September 18, 1992}} For his efforts, Guarantano was named to the All Big East First-team, and was a UPI Honorable Mention All American.{{Cite web |title=Rutgers Football All-Americans |url=http://www.scarletknights.com/football/history/aa.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129193250/http://www.scarletknights.com/football/history/aa.asp |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |access-date=November 24, 2012}}
=College legacy=
When Guarantano graduated in 1992, he left as one of the most prolific receivers in school history. Guarantano was second All-Time in Scarlet Knight history in yards (2,065), first in receptions (158) and third in touchdowns (11).{{Cite web|url=http://blog.nj.com/rutgersfb_archive/2007/07/career_leaders_1.html|title=Career leaders|date=July 30, 2007}} In 1999, he was inducted into the Rutgers football Hall of Fame.http://www.scarletknights.com/football/news/guide06/rutgers_fb06_175-198.pdf {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Professional career
Guarantano discussed a possible contract with the New York Giants{{Cite web |url=http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/guarantano-yearns-to-come-home-19950429-hb/ |title=GUARANTANO YEARNS TO COME HOME Summary | BookRags.com |access-date=January 31, 2009 |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525052425/http://www.bookrags.com/highbeam/guarantano-yearns-to-come-home-19950429-hb/ |url-status=dead }} before he signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers on April 30, 1993. He was released on May 5, 1993.{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEEDB103AF933A05757C0A965958260&sec=&spon=|title=Transactions|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 30, 1993}}{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFDB1039F931A35756C0A963958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/F/Football|title = PRO FOOTBALL; Young Wants to Dress Like His Dad|newspaper = The New York Times|date = May 2, 1995|last1 = Freeman|first1 = Mike}}{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE2DC1639F936A35756C0A965958260|title = Transactions|newspaper = The New York Times|date = May 5, 1993}} Following his stint in the NFL, Guarantano would play for the Baltimore Stallions (now the Montreal Alouettes) of the CFL from 1994 to 1997.{{Cite web|url=http://lodihighschool.net/lodi-nj/famous-alumni.html|title = Lodi High School Alumni}}
Personal
Following his professional football career, Guarantano became a police officer in the NYPD.{{cite web | url=http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/a-big-change-did-him-good-1.1186555?page=all | title=Where are they now? Rutgers wide receiver Jim Guarantano of Lodi }} Guarantano's son, Jarrett Guarantano, was one of the top quarterbacks in New Jersey's 2016 high school class, and is a former starting QB at the University of Tennessee before transferring to Washington State. He chose the Vols over Rutgers University, his dad's alma mater, and Ohio State University.{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Todderick |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Jarrett Guarantano camp on Wednesday's Rutgers visit: 'He liked it, he liked it a lot' |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2015/02/jarrett_guarantano_camp_provides_rutgers_post-visi.html |access-date=January 29, 2021 |website=NJ.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://lodihighschool.net/lodi-nj/famous-alumni.html Lodi HS Famous Alumni - James Guarantano]
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Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Lodi High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:People from Lodi, New Jersey
Category:Players of American football from Bergen County, New Jersey
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players
Category:San Diego Chargers players