Marysville High School senior Nick Kessler signs his national letter of intent to play football at Illinois State University. Due to COVID-19, Kessler held his signing from his home on Wednesday, which was the first day of early signing for college football. He will play tight end for the Redbirds. (Photo submitted)
A Marysville High School senior took advantage of Wednesday’s early signing day for NCAA college football.
Monarch tight end Nick Kessler signed with Illinois State University of the Mid American Conference.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Kessler signed with the Redbirds from his home.
Kessler is a four-year scholar athlete at MHS and plans to major in psychology and athletic training.
Kessler began his collegiate recruiting process by “selling” himself after his junior season.
“I sent films from my junior season to Illinois State and a couple of other Division I schools – Eastern Kentucky and Indiana State,” he said. “There were also several D-II schools to which I sent films.”
Kessler said the Illinois State coaches expressed the most interest.
“They kept calling and texting me to see how I was doing,” he said.
Kessler, who stands 6-6 and weighs 235 pounds, lifts weights on a daily basis and said he could go up to 245 pounds and still be comfortable as a Division I collegiate tight end.
He said it remains up in the air how much playing time he could earn during his freshman campaign.
“I figure I’ll have to work pretty hard, but if I do, I think I could earn a starting spot my freshman year,” he said.
Kessler has been a multi-sport (including basketball and track and field) athlete at MHS.
It’s the gridiron, however, that is in his bloodline.
His older brother Anthony is currently a wide receiver at Ashland University.
Kessler’s uncle, Tony Pannunzio, was a cornerback from 1994-1999 at Youngstown State University.
Pannunzio won two national championships under coach Jim Tressel (later the head coach at The Ohio State University), while at YSU.
A great-uncle, Arthur DeCarlo Sr., was a defensive back at the University of Georgia and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1953 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He was quickly traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
DeCarlo later played for Washington (1956-57) and Baltimore Colts (1957-60).
He was a member of the 1958 NFL champion Colts team that defeated the New York Giants in sudden death overtime on Dec. 28 of that year.