Villanova Commit Brody Kuszyk Learns Technique From 8-Man Football

Villanova Football commit Brody Kuszyk didn’t take the typical path to Division I football. A senior at North Carolina’s Arendell Parrott Academy, the 6-foot-3, 230 pound defensive lineman’s high school played eight-man football.

Athletes from smaller classifications tend to face an uphill battle in college recruiting, but the demands of playing as one of two defensive linemen on the field helped him hone his pass rushing toolbox. More space on the field gives the offense more room to work with.

“Being relied on as part of the defense is not something new, and I’m looking forward to it… It really nailed down the technique of being able to break down and capture a quarterback that scrambled a lot,” Kuszyk said. “We had a lot of those… Very similar game from a defensive lineman’s perspective.”

Villanova often uses a three-man front as the cornerstone of their 3-3-5 defense, so Kuszyk’s experience serving as his team’s first line of defense should help him adjust to Division I. In communicating with the Wildcats, Kuszyk said that their continuity as a staff proved that they were the right choice for him.

”I really got to understand what type of community Villanova is and how committed the coaches are. All of them have been there for a very long time,” Kuszyk said. ”It really meant a lot to be able to see how committed they are to you as a person.”

Eight-man football also taught Kuszyk the value of work ethic. Given the challenge of catching a coach’s eye as a recruit from a smaller school, he said he learned to play with a chip on his shoulder and strive to become the hardest working player on the field.

Hungry for Success

“They can expect to get somebody who’s ready to work. I’m gonna work my butt off every single day. I’m gonna get bigger, faster, stronger, that’s what my trainer’s been telling me since eighth grade,” Kuszyk said. “Just somebody who’s constantly improving at everything they do, on the field and in the classroom. All-American on the field and in the classroom, that’s my motto.”

Kuszyk said he plans to bulk up to the 260 pound range after his first season or two of college training. He also wants to serve as a trailblazer for other eight-man football recruits, showing that they can earn Division I offers and succeed at the next level.

“For all the kids who play eight man football, you always hear ‘oh you play eight man, you can’t play D-I. You can’t make it as an athlete, you’ve gotta transfer to a big public school and play 11 man,’” Kuszyk said. “I just want all of them to know that it is possible, they just have to keep going.”

Another intriguing part of Kuszyk’s game is his multi-sport ability. He competed on his school’s swimming and golf teams, helping him grow as an athlete both mentally and physically. 

“I probably got the hardest workouts ever from that swim team. It’s something else, I’ve gotta tell you,” Kuszyk said. “It’s definitely improved my overall athleticism. It did make me lose a little bit of weight, but I’ve gotten that back on. And then golf is really mental, you’ve got all these critiques that you have to do, and that’s helped me as well: staying in the right mental game. They both helped tremendously.”