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In a way, leaving for college has kind of sneaked up on Malik Generett.
Maybe because it's been an entire year since the William Penn graduate gave a verbal commitment to play football for the University of Connecticut.
Maybe it's because Generett stayed so busy after his senior year of high school football, especially leading his Bearcats' basketball team to the state title game.
Then came graduation. Then came last week's Big 33 game in Hershey.
This weekend, though, is his time to leave York. Time to start another chapter in his life.
"It actually came faster than I thought," he said. "I think I'm ready to go and ready to get on the field and show the city of York that I can play Division I football. I think I'm ready to open up a lot of eyes.
"I'm ready to accomplish my goals on the field and in school."
Generett, who plans on studying sports management, will play wide receiver for coach Randy Edsall's Huskies. Though lacking top-line, breakaway speed, Generett uses his 6-foot-4 frame well to stretch and leap over smaller defenders and make tough catches.
"He's a big deal for us because of the kind of person he is, the kind of player he is," Edsall said. "He's impressed me with how he handles himself around people. I'm just waiting to get my hands on him to mold him and shape him and develop him more as a player.
"Many people didn't know about him (last year). I saw him play basketball in his junior year, so I might have known a little
Generett stuck with UConn, though, and did what he could to make a name for himself in Pennsylvania's recent 38-31 loss to Ohio in the Big 33 game. He made two catches, the first a 15-yard first-down reception on a comeback route.
The second was even better.
Midway through the third quarter, on fourth down-and-16, Generett hauled in a 27-yard pass, despite a defender interfering with him. The grab gave his team the ball on the 1-yard line.
"He did that all week in practice," said Tim Janocko, who coached the Pennsylvania team. "He competes for the ball, and that gives him that little extra special part that will make him a great receiver in college.
"He just has a great attitude. He did everything we asked him to do. ... And he's a great downfield blocker. In today's game, you can't just be a great receiver, you have to be a great blocker."
Generett admitted that he did drop one pass in the game because he was looking to run with the ball before pulling it in. Janocko also pointed out that Generett was open at times, though his quarterbacks couldn't get him the ball.
"I pushed myself all week. I worked hard on blocking. I ran my routes hard," Generett said. "I think it pushed my game higher playing another level of competition. It made me go harder during the game. It made me a better person off the field. Working with the kids made me appreciate things, made me thankful for what I have."
Generett and his teammates spent time with some physically disabled children in the week leading up to the game. They threw the football around and ate lunch together.
And now he will take all of those experiences to college, to UConn, where the head coach (Edsall) is from Susquehannock High and its recent second-round NFL draft choice (Will Beatty) played one season at William Penn.
Generett seems ready to prove himself.
"In my eyes, I think there's always people who don't want you to be successful or think you can't do it," Generett said. "I know they're out there somewhere and I want to show them I'm not phony and just working hard, trying to be the best."
College is finally upon him with workouts and summer school starting on Monday, before preseason practice officially begins in August.
"He's ready for the change," said his mother, Stacy Freeland. "We had a conversation about it the other day. He's ready to take on the responsibility and the challenge, as well."
He said he's not nervous.
"I like going on to new goals and trying new things," Generett said. "I'm just ready."
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