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After winning three varsity letters as a receiver at East, Wein-gartz signed to play for the NCAA Division II Warriors in 2003. The last East receiver signed by a college program was Jason Charnley by Kalamazoo College in 1998.

Weingartz had been an offensive catalyst for an East team, which averaged 33 points and nearly 350 yards a game in his senior season. He caught 44 passes for a school-record 792 yards—an average of 18 yards a catch—and eight touchdowns. Weingartz also rushed for 142 yards, scored three touchdowns on reverse plays and totaled 74 points as the Eagles finished 9-2, setting a school victories record. They advanced to round two of the Division III playoffs for the first time by beating Oxford. At safety, Weingartz finished with 53 tackles and seven interceptions.

Weingartz finished his career with 72 catches for 1,209 yards and 18 total touchdowns. He made 117 career tackles and picked off 13 passes.

None of those achievements or statistics, however, mattered in college.

"In high school, I was the go-to guy," Weingartz said. "I was getting the ball almost every down. Here, it's a world of difference in talent. You have to be able to play your role. You have to work harder and hope things come around."

Humbling also for Weingartz is the fact that the program hasn't had a winning season since 1994 and last won a league title in 1975.

"We went 3-8 my first year and 1-9 my second year," Weingartz said. "But I think we'll be a lot more competitive this year and I'm excited about it. We have a lot of new guys coming in and transfers. The one good thing was that a lot of younger guys got to play last year. We really only lost one player on offense and one on defense. Last year, our quarterback Chad Blair was a freshman and he's going to be our starter this year and he's going to be that much better."

Weingartz said the big difference lies in the discipline instilled when Head Coach Paul Winters took over the program from Steve Kazor.

"Steve was more of an NFL-type coach and let a lot of things go," Weingartz said. "Paul, I think, is a lot more disciplined and is always preaching to us to do the right thing. I think we've become more disciplined as a team. It showed last year when we led the league with the fewest penalties. We've really buckled down. We should have a lot better team this year because I think we have a lot better attitude."

That attitude has certainly trickled down to Weingartz and is reflected in his work ethic.

"In Division II, it's not mandatory to attend summer workouts but since I live down here (in the Detroit area) all summer, I've worked out five days a week with the strength and conditioning coach. I want to improve my speed (from a 4.6-second 40-yard dash) and be bench pressing about 300 pounds before I leave."

Numbers suggest that Weingartz has improved his game.

As a freshman, Weingartz played in all 11 games and caught five passes for 42 yards, an 8.4-yard average. In 2004, he hauled in at least one pass in eight of the nine games he played. He had 17 catches for 168 yards (9.9) with no touchdowns. His long reception was for 44 yards against Gannon University. His postseason honors included being named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference All-Academic team.

Weingartz said he wants to be a versatile receiver who can be used in all situations. He said he patterns his game after the New York Jets' Wayne Chrebet and NFLer Tim Dwight.

"I'm more of a position receiver and am used in under routes and quick stuff where I can make a move," he said. "I'm not a deep route guy."

He also plays a lot on special teams.

As a student, he is majoring in secondary education and social studies and minoring in physical education. He has a 3.4 cumulative grade-point average.

Weingartz aspires to coaching after school with his good friend and former teammate at East, Jake Long, an offensive lineman for the University of Michigan. The two have shared several football dreams since they were very young, beginning with an elementary school flag football championship at Lynch through the first playoff victory in East's history in 2002.

"I'd like to play football after school," Weingartz said. "But I don't expect to be drafted because of my size. But if I got the chance to play arena football or over in Europe, I'd take it.

"Some of the goals I've set this year are to start every game and stay healthy. I also want to try to make the all-league team. I also want to try to be productive."