Talented 2020 Teammates Bryce Mostella, Dallas Fincher Ready For ND Return
Tony Kimbrough describes Bryce Mostella as “active” on the football field and the East Kentwood High School head coach’s description applies in more ways than one.
“He plays in the marching band,” Kimbrough says of the 2020 Michigan defensive end. “He plays the xylophone.”
He even plays at halftime of his own games.
“He’s out there with his uniform,” Kimbrough continues. “He doesn’t change.
“He can focus on that and come back and not be a distraction. He did it all last year and he’s planning on doing it again this year.”
That being said, football would take priority if it came down to it.
“I have a good relationship with the band director, Mr. James Ross,” Kimbrough explains. “If we’re in a tight ball game, he knows Bryce won’t miss our adjustments.
“They’ve got a backup guy for him.”
The absence of Mostella during the halftime show probably wouldn’t be as noticeable as a potential absence on the field during the game.
“For one, he’s 6-6. He’s got a lot of length, long arms,” Kimbrough says of Mostella as a player. “He just plays relentlessly. He’s got a motor that is continuous. It never stops. He’s very active.
“Once he really fills out, he’s going to be really, really tough to handle. He’s an overall talent, an exceptional talent and he’s getting better every day.”
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Mostella has compiled an extensive offer list that includes schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Cincinnati, Indiana and Iowa among several others.
He doesn’t have an offer from Notre Dame yet, but has already visited South Bend and will be back in town this weekend for the Irish’s opener against Michigan.
Mostella will be joined by his friend and teammate, 2020 offensive lineman Dallas Fincher, who has many of the same offers.
Kimbrough points to “technique” as what stands out most for the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Fincher.
“He’s a technician,” the coach continues. “He’s a really fundamentally sound football player. He just does everything right. He takes pride in it, works hard at it. When college coaches comes to recruit, the first thing they say is, ‘Well, we can work on his technique. We can work on getting him in the right position, but for the most part, he’s pretty technically sound.’”
Kimbrough describes Fincher, who has also already visited Notre Dame, as an “excellent” kid.
“He’s fun-loving,” the coach says. “He’s a good teammate. He’s good in the classroom. The teachers like him. He’s just an all-around good kid.”
Kimbrough says Mostella is “the same type of kid.”
The coach isn’t surprised that his standouts are interested in Notre Dame.
“It’s the history, it’s the tradition, everything that comes with it, the education,” he says. “It’s a no-brainer to have interest. If a school like Notre Dame has got some interest in you as a player, you better have some interest in them.”
The two are tight friends, but may not be locks to go to the same school.
“I don’t know,” Kimbrough says. “I know they’re close. I know they’re good friends. When it comes down to it, they’re going to go for best fit. They’re going to go where it suits their wants and needs academically and athletically.
“If it works out, I think it’d be something they talk about. But if not, I’m sure they’ll be happy either way.”