Hopewell High School graduate Nathan Harmotto can't ask for much more from his collegiate football experience than what he has experienced in his three seasons playing at Washington & Jefferson.

A junior safety, Harmotto has been part of teams that compiled a 29-4 overall record, two national playoff qualifiers (with decent prospects for playing in the postseason tournament again this season) and a conference championship squad.

Individually, Harmotto was named first team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference after his sophomore season and is on track to be in consideration for similar honors this season for the Presidents, who are 8-1 and ranked No. 20 nationally in Division III by D3football.com.

"Since I came here and coach [Mike] Sirianni recruited me, it's just been an awesome experience so far," Harmotto said. "We're still focused on the last [regular-season game] of the season because we want to get [a win] and get into the playoffs, but I'm also looking forward to next season, too. These three years have been great."

Harmotto, 6 feet 4, 210 pounds, is an integral part of a Washington & Jefferson defense that is by far the biggest reason why it is so highly ranked in the polls.

The Presidents rank sixth in the nation in total defense (231.2 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (9.4 points per game). They lead the PAC in both of those categories and in opponents' passing efficiency and pass defense.

"Coach Sirianni does an amazing job preparing us every week, and I give a ton of credit to him and the staff," said Harmotto, whose sister, Christa, was a four-time Division I All-American volleyball player at Penn State.

"We've got a lot of athletes on defense, but we're also prepared ... And we have a bunch of kids on defense who have an attitude about it, we carry that on the field and we take it seriously -- each and every player on each and every play. We try to do our best, and it's been working out pretty well for us this year."

Harmotto ranks second on that defense in tackles with 38 and in interceptions with three. He also has five passes broken up, a sack, a forced fumble and 2 1/2 tackles for loss.

"He's just such a big person, and he's very smart," said Craig Sedunov, who lines up next to Harmotto in the Presidents' defensive backfield. "A lot of the time, he helps me make the calls and get everyone lined up. And he's just very aggressive. He gets off blocks very well.

"He's doing a great job against the run, and he helps everyone else get to the ball because he's good at getting up and forcing people inside or outside or wherever he has to force them."

In the Presidents' 4-2-5 scheme, the three safeties are often the biggest playmakers. The top three tacklers on the team are the safeties, and all three are from Western Pennsylvania. Harmotto plays strong safety, Yough High School graduate Sedunov free safety and Geibel alum and Perryopolis native Mitch Erdely the weak safety.

"This is the best secondary we have had in my years at W&J," said Sirianni, who is in his seventh season as head coach and 11th year on the staff.

"Their safeties are unbelievable players," said Thomas More coach Jim Hilvert, whose team handed the Presidents their only loss this season.

"They do a great job recognizing the run and the pass, and they come up and they will hit you. They definitely cause problems in running situations when they're up in the box and aggressive. You can't get past them.

"They're also a great matchup in the passing game. They can run with anybody -- any receiver, any running back. Those guys give people problems. They're very, very athletic."

It is obvious that Harmotto, who was also a standout baseball player and was on the Hopewell basketball team before graduating in 2007, credits the coaching staff for much of the team's -- and his personal -- successes.

"It seems since I've come here to college, I've learned a lot more about football," Harmotto said. "Not taking anything away from high school, because I learned so much there, but when you get to college, break down a lot more film, you're with coaches a lot more one-on-one.

"It's a little different, but it's been good so far."

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