Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame
GIOVANNI CARMAZZI
Giovanni Carmazzi played quarterback on the football team from 1996 to 1999, was a member of two NCAA I-AA Playoff teams and helped the team achieve a #5 national ranking in 1999. Hofstra's all-time leader in passing yards with 9,371 and completions with 764, Giovanni also holds the school mark for touchdown passes (71) and total offense (10,415 yards).Giovanni played in 39 regular season games during his career. Becoming a full-time starter in 1997, he set school records for attempts (408), completions (288), yards (3,554), touchdowns (27) and completion percentage (70.6) that year in leading the team to a 9-2 record, a #14 national ranking and a berth in the I-AA Playoffs.
In 2008 Giovanni passed for 2,751 yards and 18 touchdowns as he helped the team to an 8-3 mark and a #20 national ranking. He closed out his career with a 2,651-yard, 21-touchdown performance during Hofstra's 10-1 1999 season. The team achieved a #5 national ranking and went 1-1 in the I-AA Playoffs.
In addition to his passing numbers, Giovanni also rushed for 1,044 yards and 32 touchdowns during his four seasons.
Giovanni was a three-time All-American and a Payton Award finalist as a senior, as well as the 1999 National Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was selected to play in both the 1999 Blue-Grey Senior Bowl and the 2000 Senior Bowl, becoming the first Hofstra player selected to compete in the latter.
A third round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2000 NFL Draft, Giovanni also spent time with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 2001. He was also on the rosters of the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Since retiring from football, Giovanni has become a devoted practitioner of yoga. He is also restoring an old farmhouse in Roseville, California, and is assisting in the development of an online software program for physicians called Smartmed Technologies.
