Recruiting Report: Bryan Cassellius (Winona-2023)
One of the cooler and more underrated aspects of writing for Northstar Football News is uncovering, tracking, and hyping up the younger upcoming prep recruits the state of Minnesota has to offer. Getting ahead on the recruiting trail of a future potential…
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Continue ReadingOne of the cooler and more underrated aspects of writing for Northstar Football News is uncovering, tracking, and hyping up the younger upcoming prep recruits the state of Minnesota has to offer. Getting ahead on the recruiting trail of a future potential highly rated recruit and helping to disperse their film and get their name out there as a underclassmen is a very cooling feeling as a writer in my position. I also can’t help but think a good one has been found with this newest recruit for this report: Winona High School 2023 grad Bryan Cassellius.
The 6’1, 180 lb. freshman is about to enter his second year of high school and is poised to make some waves coming up in Minnesota after playing varsity football for Winona in 2019 and having a impactful year as a TE/OLB on the Winhawk state playoff team that lost to eventual 4A champ Ricori. Cassellius has the measurables and attitude of a future scholarship athlete, and I’m very fortunate to be one of the first writers he contacted. Check out this first-look, exclusive interview with the 2023 grad as we discuss his football career thus far, playing football for Winona, and some of his hopes for recruiting. Hope you enjoy! Rochester Mayo Varisty ’19 Film
NFN: Hello and thank you for your time, Bryan. I’m very impressed with your 2019 season on the Winhawks and I’m excited to see where your career is heading. Please begin by telling our readers a little bit about yourself, some fun facts, your measurables, and your stats!
Cassellius: “I’m from Winona Minnesota. I started playing football when I was very young. I played flag football in pre-school and Kindergarten. I started playing tackle football in first grade. A few fun facts are that I went to my first football game when I was 9 days old and the first gift I received as a child was a football. What I like the most about playing football isn’t about the points I score or the big plays I make on defence, but it’s about the life long lessons I learn and the relationships that are formed from the game. Height- 6’1/weight- 175lbs./40 time- 4.7 in a gym/backsquat- 295lbs./bench-175lbs./power clean-200 lbs./snatch-100 lbs. Stats- 7 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, 21 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 recovered fumble, 1 pass defended, 1 receiving touchdown, 31 receiving yards.”
NFN: Nice. What were the expectations coming into the season and what did the Winhawk offseason look like?
Cassellius: “The expectation for the team was to be the best we can and take it game by game and focus on that week and making sure we do our job to get the win. The expectation was to make it to state. The expectation for myself was to take on the challenges that a freshman may face playing football and taking on the roles that needed to be filled. During the offseason, the majority of the team was in the weight room three days a week and running as a team once a week.”
NFN: Forsure. Now give us some insight into your 2019 season with Winona. How was the regular season?
Cassellius: “Our first game was against Albert Lea, we won 33-7 I played tight end and defensive end to give the starters breaks when they needed them. Our second game was against Fairbault, we won 38-6, I played outside linebacker when the starters needed a break. The third game we played Mankato East, we won 49-14, Once again I gave the starters breaks at outside linebacker. The fourth game we played Kasson-Mantorville, we won 34-24, I played tight end and no defense. The fifth game we played Austin, we won 31-7, I played tight end and no defense, I had a few nice blocks. The sixth game we played Northfield, we won 31-7, I started at tight end and had another nice game blocking. The seventh game we played Rochester Mayo, we won 35-0, As a team, we came out right away and played very well. I played tight end and had a 31-yard receiving touchdown. This game was the first time we beat them since 1992. The eight-game we played Byron, we won 33-8, I had played tight end and had a nice game blocking.”
NFN: What will you do to improve your game, and what are some of your strengths as a football player?
Cassellius: “To improve my game I’m going to have to be in the weight room working on getting much stronger. I will also have to work on my speed and explosiveness. I will also need to gain more weight. I feel if I have a great work ethic and surrounded myself with the right people I could be one of the best football players in the state of Minnesota, in the class of 2023.”
NFN: Agreed. What are you looking for in a college, even though it’s early, and have you been in contact with any programs?
Cassellius: “In college I’m looking for a team that has coaches and players that love the game of football., Id really love to play D1 or D2. I have not been contacted by schools and I have not been to any visits of my own. I have been to a few gameday visits with my team mates. I’m looking for a school that will provide a great education for myself to be successful in life.”
This won’t be the last you hear about the ’23 grad! Stay tuned.