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But he didn't make it to the gridiron at Penn State's Beaver Stadium this fall because he could play football.
The incoming freshman did it because he plays the baritone and survived rugged competition to land a spot in the brass section of the Penn State Blue Band.
Suburban classmate Kieran Carlisle also made the marching squad, and classmate Tristalyn Bixler-Kint made it as a majorette.
Bulgarelli said he would have loved to play for Joe Paterno but decided to go in a different direction.
"I thought about (football), but I felt with the skills I had, all I'd be was a (NCAA) Division III recruit," he said.
However,
Bixler-Kint has been twirling the baton for 14 years. As a youngster, she attended a twirling camp run by the Blue Band and had wanted to join it ever since.
The tryouts for majorettes were in April. There were 12 openings, and about 30 twirlers came out.
The girls were first taught the traditional Penn State pregame routine and another routine. Each then had to turn around with little or no practice and perform the two routines as part of a group of six.
The entire audition took about 15 minutes. By chance, Bixler-Kint got to perform the pregame twice.
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Carlisle first saw the Blue Band when it appeared in York a couple of years ago.
"I'd played in band in middle and high school. I saw the Blue Band in York, and that sparked my interest," Carlisle said.
He specializes in the cymbals, although he also plays other percussion instruments. That versatility paid off because much of his audition was on snare drum.
The music and marching auditions were a challenge. There were Blue slots for only 60 freshmen, and 150 tried out.
The music audition was the day freshmen moved in, coming that evening after they'd spent the day lugging belongings to their rooms. The next day was the grueling marching phase with morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
Bulgarelli wasn't used to the routines.
"I didn't know what to expect. Their marching style is different than anything we had in high school," he recalled.
Carlisle's name was the last called for the drum line.
"To make the Blue Band is one of the reasons I wanted to go to Penn State, in addition to its being a good school," Carlisle said. "(Making the band) was definitely a struggle. It was a two-day audition that was hard. You didn't even know if you'd be back there the next day. But once you made it, it was worth it."
Bixler-Kint already cherishes the friendships she's made. She also finds the spot comes with some minor recognition.
"When people find out you're in the Blue Band, everybody loves you. It is awesome. It is so cool," she said.
Bulgarelli feels he made the right choice.
"Lining up in the tunnel with 110,000 fans screaming -- there's no way to describe it. It is the best experience of your life moving out in front of that crowd at Beaver Stadium," he said.
