NFL experience sticks out to top-75 prospect with return visit in mind

Don Bosco was outmatched in Saturday’s 26-7 loss at St. John’s, but 2023 four-star lineman Chase Bisontis handled his own as a two-way starter all afternoon. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound left tackle wasn’t pleased with the end result but knows the long season ahead of him and his team provides opportunities to learn from their mistakes.

“Offensively, we’ve got to work more as a team and for each other. We preach brotherhood so that’s what we’ve got to focus on,” Bisontis told Inside the Black and Gold. “I’ve got to pick up the young guys. I’m the captain.” Bisontis added that he felt the biggest improvement in his pass blocking during Saturday’s game. “Those guys are very good off the ball and I think I did OK.”

The mean streak that Bisontis plays with was evident on the offense’s first snap as the 6-foot-5, 290-pound left tackle proved to be the mauling tackle prospect that so many have praised on the trail. Heading into his junior season, the New Jersey native already has over 30 verbal offers and took in the first stages of his recruitment this summer when he was able to take visits. One of those stops was to College Park back on July 31 as he got a chance to meet the Terps’ staff.

“I like coach [Henry] Baker, coach Baker is my guy and coach [Brian] Braswell, we talk weekly.” While Baker is the primary recruiter, the conversations between Bisontis and Braswell have maintained a level of mutual interest early in the process. “Coach Braswell’s NFL experience and coach Baker is from New Jersey so just learning about them.” But one aspect about the Terps’ pitch sticks out the most.

“Yeah, coach Braswell coaching guys in the NFL really sticks out to me. The NFL experience, academics, and how I can get better on the field, I like what I’ve heard.” Bisontis also got a chance to talk with head coach Mike Locksley on his July visit. “We talked about coming back on campus again. That day was more of a casual day so another day for harder recruiting.”

With an interest to major in kinesiology in college, Bisontis knows the types of questions he’ll ask the staff when he returns to campus. “How they run the ball. There’s a lot I don’t know so just seeing what they have to offer now.”

Though he does not have any game visits set just yet, Notre Dame and Penn State are two programs squarely in the mix while the top-100 prospect knows three schools he wants to see in person for a game this fall.

“Maryland, Rutgers, and Ohio State.”

Bisontis is rated a four-star prospect and a 92 overall by 247Sports, sitting as the nation's fourth-best tackle and top prospect in New Jersey.