THE SKINNY
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 235 pounds
Hometown/High School: Grand Rapids, MI (East Kentwood)
Ranking: ★★★ (0.8789 247Sports Composite)
Notable Offers: Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska
— Bryce Mostella (@BryceMostella) July 5, 2019
HIGHLIGHTS
THE TALE
Mostella was a visitor for the Blue-White game last year, and earned his offer from Penn State shortly thereafter on May 14, 2018. He was back in town for the Ohio State game last season, and then returned for his official visit on June 7. While Mostella held off on committing then, it seemed like Penn State put itself in the pole position. Mostella wound up taking one final official visit to Iowa, but the Hawkeyes didn’t do enough to overcome the Nittany Lions as Mostella made the call for Penn State earlier today.
OUTLOOK
Mostella is an intriguing prospect because while he’s going to be a project physically, there’s a solid football base there to build upon. Shows good awareness on run plays, which is something you like to see from a young defensive end. His highlights are filled with him diagnosing the run, disengaging from the defender, and making a play on the ballcarrier.
There’s some Buchholz to him, though Buchholz was probably a more fluid athlete at this stage than Mostellla. But then again, that could just be a case of where Mostella is at physically. He’s listed at 235 pounds, but it looks like 205 — there’s a whole lotta frame to pack on muscle. Definitely a kid who will eventually be in the 265-270 area. Wouldn’t be surprised if he “pops” more athletically once he’s in a college training program, because right now his movements are a bit awkward.
To be honest, I think it’s fitting that Iowa was his other finalist because he definitely fits the mold of what they recruit on the defensive line — solid football players, great frame, but just need to work physically. Hopefully, Penn State will have similar success with that type in Bryce Mostella.