Giuseppe Palermo is a two-burrito sort of guy.

Which is to say when the Totino-Grace senior heads to his favorite fast-foot joint for a made-to-order meal, he orders a MEAL.

Palermo stands 6-feet tall, weighs 205 pounds and is as thick as an oak. By high school lacrosse standards, he is a giant.

Thing is, Palermo isn’t just a slab of beef. The midfielder, who plays linebacker during football season, moves laterally with seemingly minimal effort and runs with deceptive speed.

Let’s just say Palermo wears all those burritos well.

“He’s a very good leader for our team,” Totino-Grace coach Justin Hoban said. “Our guys respect him for the way he plays, but that only carries you so far. He practices just as hard as he plays. As a coach, that’s the type of thing you love.

“I don’t ever have to worry about him dogging it in practice.”

Indeed, Eagles practices are just the beginning of a Palermo’s daily workout routine, which also includes a 30- to 45-minute shooting session in his backyard when he gets home.

“I just love the sport,” Palermo said when asked about his post-practice practices. “I always have since I started playing in the fourth grade. I’m out there for at least half hour every day.”

Through Tuesday, May 11, Palermo was leading the Eagles ---- who are 6-3 with all three losses coming against the state's top two teams (Benilde-St. Margaret's and Blake) ---- in most every statistical category, including goals (17), assists (16), ground balls (47) and face-offs won (75).

If there was a statistic for quality hits, there’s no doubt Palermo would be the runaway leader in that, too.

“He’s a big, physical kid,” Hoban said. “Sometimes he gets penalties just because he hits so hard.”

The MN Lax Hub recently caught up with Palermo and asked him about the origins of his name, his affinity for physical play, what it means to be one of just nine state players to have committed to a Division I program and the state of Minnesota lacrosse.
 

What do you know about the origin of your name? Actually it’s Italian for Joseph. My dad's side of the family is pretty Italian. My middle name is Salvatore, which is my grandfather's name.

Have you ever been to Italy? No.

Do you have a nickname? People call me Joe.

What does it mean to you to know you are one of just nine Minnesota players who are committed to Division I programs? I’m quite honored. It’s nice to know where I’m going to school. I decided in late November, so it was nice to get it out of the way early.

Why did you choose Quinnipiac? I like the head coach (Erik Fekete), his coaching style. When I went out to Connecticut, I loved it there. The campus was great.

What was the recruiting process like? For the past couple of years I’ve been going on summer trips with Minnesota Elite and going to recruiting camps, putting myself out there, contacting coaches.

You were a linebacker on the Eagles’ football team. What football skills, if any, transfer over to lacrosse? I think the physicality of football is similar. I’m kind of a bigger kid when it comes to lacrosse. It’s not that I’m going to go out of my way to hit someone, but if I have a chance to hit someone I will. I'm not afraid to give a hit or take a hit.

You’ve spent quite a bit of time working on your offensive skills. What is your practice setup like in your backyard? I have a shooting area with a lacrosse net. I’m out there most everyday, shooting on-the-run-shots, working on my quickness with my feet. I think I have a lot better accuracy.

You’ve traveled around quite a bit. How does Minnesota lacrosse compare to lacrosse in other parts of the country? Lacrosse on the East Coast is definitely quicker. It’s a more high-paced game. Minnesota lacrosse over the years had improved quite a bit. But it’s not quite at that league yet. It’s definitely different here than out east. It’s more of a possession game. Here there’s more of a hockey mentality.

School: Totino-Grace
Year: Senior
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 205 pounds
Position: Midfielder
College committment: Quinnipiac.
Credentials: Palermo was a starting outside linebacker for Totino-Grace last football season and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. In lacrosse, he is just one of nine Minnesota players to have committed to an NCAA Division I program. This season he leads the Eagles in almost every statistical category, including goals, assists, ground balls and face-offs won.

Favorite home-cooked meal: Lasagna

Favorite non-chain restaurant: Blue Heron Grille (Hugo)

Favorite fast food: Chipotle

Cats or dogs: Dogs

History or geography: History

Beach or mountains: Mountains

Last book you read: "Whatever the last Harry Potter book was; Deathly Hallows."

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans.

Must-see TV: Entourage

Dream car: Black Cadallic Escalde

Current car: Silver 2004 Escalade. "It has 116,000 miles. It was my father’s."