Giuseppe Barbagallo is not your average 11-year-old. A fifth grader at Sicomac School in Wyckoff, NJ, Giuseppe has already shown a remarkable level of dedication and discipline in both his athletic and academic life. In just his second season of tackle football, he earned the starting quarterback role on one of the Wyckoff Raiders’ junior teams—an achievement fueled by tireless off-season work and an unwavering commitment to improving every single day.

Giuseppe’s journey into football began at age 7, sitting on the couch with his dad watching NFL games and imagining himself under the lights. It wasn’t long before he was deep-diving into stats, memorizing player bios, and studying film of past Super Bowls and NFL legends. At age 9, he laced up for his first season as a pee-wee linebacker and tight end. But after just one year, he set his sights on playing quarterback—and never looked back.

Giuseppe’s passion for the position is rooted in his love for the mental side of the game. His understanding of pre-snap reads, honed through two intensive QBIQ camps (Las Vegas in 2024, New Jersey in 2025), sets him apart from other players his age. That, along with his leadership and positive attitude, makes him a true field general.

He’s trained extensively with elite-level coaches through QBIQ Academy, including Chris Hixson, Tony Racioppi, Hilton “Route King” Alexander, Peter Hamilton, Don Klein, and Mike Sullivan. For the past two years, he’s worked twice a week with private quarterback coach Madei Williams, even during the off-season. He’s also sharpened his understand of different positions on the field attending camps hosted by Don Bosco, St. Joseph’s, and Ramapo High School.

Giuseppe’s favorite quarterbacks reflect the type of leader he aspires to be—Josh Allen for his toughness and heart, and Tom Brady for his legendary preparation and football IQ. Giuseppe is currently working on fine-tuning his throwing mechanics and improving his accuracy, while also continuing to study coverages to sharpen his pre-snap reads.

Off the field, Giuseppe brings the same discipline to every aspect of his life. He’s in the gifted and talented program at school, a blackbelt martial artist on track for his junior blackbelt in 2025, and an instructor for children with special needs. He’s also active in basketball and lacrosse during the football off-season—all while maintaining a strong faith and connection with Jesus Christ. His favorite Bible verse? Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”


One of Giuseppe’s proudest moments was earning the QB spot after deciding to pursue it, putting in the work every day, and seeing it pay off just one season later. In the next year, he’s focused on earning the starting quarterback role for the Raiders’ junior team and continuing to master the technical side of his game. Long term, he has a bold dream: to become an elite college quarterback—and one day, hear his name called in the NFL Draft.

Giuseppe’s advice for any young athletes dreaming of greatness? “Something he learned from an exchange between two coaches in his life- preparation will ALWAYS be the separation.” It’s a phrase he lives by—and if his work ethic, mindset, and faith are any indication, there’s no doubt he’s on the path to something special.