HAMPDEN – Ramsey Lafayette has had a busy summer.

The Hampden Academy senior showcased his formidable football skills at a Nike-sponsored combine at Penn State University, and he also spent a week of camp at Boston College.

But perhaps the most memorable part of his summer had nothing to do with football: five weeks spent in Ecuador as part of a cultural exchange.

“I kind of wanted to start seeing the world, to start traveling a bit,” said Lafayette, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound offensive tackle and defensive end.

During his stay he spent time among the 2.6 million people who reside in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, climbed the Andes to an altitude of 16,000 feet, and studied marine life on the Galapagos Islands.

“There were 10 of us in the group from all over the country, and our guide was from California, so it was good to learn not only about Ecuador, but also to get to know some different people,” Lafayette said.

He admits the trip did put a crimp in his football training, but he’s excited about his final season with the Broncos despite the fact a nagging shoulder injury has bothered him during preseason.

“I think going on the trip actually is helping in the way I interact with the team,” said Lafayette, one of the Broncos captains.

Lafayette is considered one of the state’s top linemen, and his work at the Penn State combine prompted preliminary interest from a number of Division I football programs, among them Arizona State, Iowa State, and UCLA.

“They were down at the combine Sunday, and Arizona State called me on Monday,” said Hampden coach John Sparacio.

While Lafayette is appreciative of the high-level interest, his heart may belong to Harvard, though no final decision has been made.

“The staff there and the facilities are excellent, and they play one game a year before 60,000 people and have 10,000 to 15,000 at the others, and that appeals to me,” said Lafayette, who is undecided about a college major but is interested in studying neurobiology.

Lafayette combines considerable athletic talent with the joy of football, a combination that has earned him a reputation among rival coaches that typically prompts them to double-team him – and he’s often the focus of triple-teaming.

“He loves the game, just walking onto the field gets him excited,” said Sparacio. “He’s a gentleman off the field, but he knows how to turn it on when he gets on the field.”

This fall, Lafayette will team with junior Drew Chase to give the Broncos a strong 1-2 punch along the line of scrimmage, both on offense where they will block for the likes of veteran tailback Jeremy Tyler – who’s coming back from a neck injury – as well as on defense where the Broncos may be at their strongest.

Hampden boasts a relatively young team, but Lafayette, for one, liked the feeling around camp as the Broncos prepared for the weekly wars that are life in the Pine Tree Conference Class B ranks.

“The whole team attitude is a lot better than it’s been,” he said. “If we can stay healthy, I think we’ll be strong.”

HAMPDEN ACADEMY BRONCOS

2003 results: 4-4, fifth in PTC Class B

Head coach: John Sparacio, 3rd year

Key players: Ramsey Lafayette, Sr., OT-DE; Blaine Meehan, Sr., WR-DB; Jon Cirrinone, Sr., HB-WB; Justin Preston, Sr., FB-LB; Jeremy Tyler, Sr., RB-DB; Drew Chase, Jr., OG-DT; Som Ratsakonsy, Jr., C-LB; Chris Pease, Sr. WR; Chris Morris, Jr., QB; Kyle Ross; Soph., RB-DB.

Outlook: The Broncos are switching to a triple-option offense, but have had to battle through several preseason injury issues. The defense should be solid, but how quickly the Broncos adapt to their new offense may determine their fate, particularly with games against 2003 PTC postseason qualifiers Brewer and Belfast in Weeks 2 and 3. Depth may be a concern for Hampden, which if healthy could contend for a playoff berth.