Photo by: National Underclassmen Football Combine
NUC Five Star Showcase Preview - New Jersey 3/7/13
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When Mark Fossati bared down on Bergen Catholic quarterback Jonathan Germano for the strip sack and returned the ball 79 yards to secure the massive win and his school's play of the year, it was clear something was special about the undersized linebacker from St. Joseph's (Montvale, N.J.)
Then there was the time last season in the playoffs against Bishop Ahr when Fossati kicked off for the Green Knights (he's also the team's kicker, running back and punter) and managed to dart down the field to tackle the returner in the end zone for the safety. It's that kind of versatility, motor and knack for big plays that has launched Fossati onto college recruiting boards as he prepares for his senior season.
With the upcoming NUC Five-Star Showcase on April 7 in Toms River, N.J., Fossati will look to establish himself as a Division 1 safety recruit with his eyes set on the Ivy Leagues.
"I want to prove to myself what I can do and set a standard for times that I can show to other colleges," said the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Fossati. "My speed and my ability to run sideline-to-sideline are my best physical attributes. I'm able to make tackles all over the field."
The 2012 Parade All-American turned in a stellar 2012 season for St. Joseph's, racking up 154 tackles (five for loss) and 2.5 sacks from the Mike linebacker position. As the team's jack-of-all-trades, he also added 28 punts for a 365.8 average as well as nine total touchdowns. The excellent personal season for Fossati culminated in leading his team to winning the non-public, Group 3 N.J. State Championship.
"It was pretty awesome to beat two of our biggest rivals and then go on to win state championships," said Fossati, who played Pop Warner football growing up. "It felt great to just be a part of that and to help contribute to our success was really an awesome feeling."
Fossati is being recruited as a safety at the next level, most likely an in-the-box strong safety where he can utilize his sure tackling skills, 4.6 speed and smarts to patrol defensive backfields. So far, he's received no official offers but has the interest of Dartmouth, Old Dominion, Harvard, Yale, Rutgers and Boston College.
"A couple of schools have been talking to me that have shown interest and I'm sending out my game film to schools that I'm interested in," said Fossati, whose brothers played college football. "I'm interested in the Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale and Rutgers of course because I've always loved Rutgers."
The defensive playmaker hopes to build on his breakout season by showing off his pass coverage skills with schools looking at him as a safety.
"As a team we want to beat our two biggest rivals and hopefully win a couple of out-of-state games," said Fossati. "As a player, I'd like to get some more tackles and hopefully a few interceptions in there."
National Underclassmen Combine's V.P. and Director of Player Personnel Tony Centrella thinks very highly of the Newark Star Ledgers' New Jersey Defensive Player of the Year and believes he'll be a great asset to whatever college he signs with.
"He's a phenomenal high school football player that may be considered undersized but will be a great pickup for the college that lands him," said Centrella. "He is a winner and has an unbelievable knowledge of the game. He is physical, has great on-field awareness and is a complete ball hawk on defense."
There's still work for Fossati to do as he prepares to make the rounds to prospective colleges, but one thing seems certain: a university will be signing a special talent.
"I just love to play," he said. "There's a certain mentality you have to have when you go out there and not everyone has that. I feel like I can use mine to play at the next level."
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