Don't judge Anthony Pilla on first impressions.

As a freshman, he tried out as the long snapper for the football team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. His first snap rolled and bounced across the ground. He didn't get the job.After graduating in the top 10 percent of his class at Marian High School, he failed to make the dean's list during his first year at RPI, a university known for rigorous academics and rated one of the top engineering schools in the country.But look at him four years later.Pilla has been selected to represent his RPI football team in the National Bowl All-Star Game in Miami, Florida on Dec. 6. The game is a showcase of players at the FCS, Division II, and Division III levels. He has also been nominated for the prestigious Cliff Harris Award, which recognizes the top small college defensive player in the country. The winner, to be selected by a panel of former NFL players, will be announced on December 24th.In addition, the Lake Hauto resident will be graduating this spring on the dean's list with a degree in civil engineering with a specialty in construction managementPilla realized early on at RPI that the transition between high school and college was going to be challenging. He needed to refocus for as a student and as an athlete."I only attained a 2.8 in my first semester so I to hit the books harder," said Pilla. "With football, I was not in the best shape to play at this level and I was not highly recruited out of Marian so I had to work harder in the weight room to get stronger."Pilla, who was selected as a Times News first team offensive lineman following his senior season at Marian, said that RPI is a very goal-oriented school, so for him it had to start with what he saw in the mirror everyday - literally."It's about proving your worth," he said. "I actually would write on the mirror a list of the goals I wanted to achieve so I could see them in print each day. Then I would keep one day contracts with myself to work toward these goals."Pilla's mirrored objectives were to attain a 3.0 GPA. He did.He wanted to start a good career when he graduated. He will.In football, he wanted to be selected to the first team all league team. He was.Obviously, Pilla's plan to achieve his goals worked to perfection.But that shouldn't be a surprise. Pilla comes from a family who has a great track record of achieving goals.His father, Joe, a Penn State graduate, is founder and president of the ETA Benefits Insurance Group in Nesquehoning and his mother. Louise earned a degree in nursing at Bloomsburg. Anthony's sisters, Emily and Abby, are both accomplished students and volleyball players with Emily being named last season's Times News Volleyball Player of the Year after leading Marian to the state title match while Abby was a key member of this year's Fillie squad that advanced to the state semifinals.On the gridiron, Pilla made his presence known to opposing offenses from his weak side linebacker position."I'm really a stand up defensive end in our 4-2-5 scheme," he said. "I only have two responsibilities: one is to protect the edge and two is to get to the quarterback."And he did both very well.During his junior year, Pilla led his team in tackles behind the line of scrimmage, quarterback sacks, and forced fumbles. He had a season high 11 tackles against the Merchant Marine Academy.This year, as a captain of the Engineers, he again led his team in tackles for losses and sacks, including three that helped RPI defeat Buffalo State in the ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl. In that game, Pilla had nine tackles, five for a loss, three sacks and a forced fumble earning him Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week.RPI head coach Ralph Isernia explained that his 5-11, 250-pound hybrid OLB-DE played bigger than his size."At first we didn't know where he could best fit in. But Anthony proved his work ethic was second to none," said Isernia. "In all our games, he was never dominated by a larger offensive lineman on the line of scrimmage."Isernia recalls the oldest rivalry in New York State, the Dutchman's Shoes game against Union College when Pilla came off the edge to get a huge quarterback sack which helped turn the tide that led the Engineers to a victory."Anthony is a testament to what it takes to be successful at RPI," says Isernia. "To meet the academic demands as well as commit himself to our football program with weight training, film study, and daily practice is quite an accomplishment. With his fortitude from the field and his commitment to academic responsibility, he is well prepared to earn a good living in the work world ."At Marian, Coach Stan Dakotsky told Pilla that football is a means to an end, and the former Colt has now set his sights on a job he was recently offered.What he calls his "new football" challenge will be working for Turner Construction Company in Philadelphia starting next September.Pilla will manage structural engineering projects and be responsible for determining financial costs and overseeing construction of large scale infrastructures like the building of new bridges.Anthony Pilla has crossed his own personal bridge that has taken him from Lake Hauto to Marian High School to RPI and now to Philadelphia.That's quite a foundation for this young man who has engineered a high level of success built upon the goals he attained from excellent academic and athletic achievement.