The ever-evolving nature of college football recruiting nearly derailed Bruno Massel’s plans to play at the next level.
There’s a happy ending to the York quarterback’s story, as he’s heading to rising power Indiana as a preferred walk-on.
But the process was long and occasionally discouraging for one of the state’s elite quarterbacks in 2024, and arguably the speediest.
“It was kind of slow for a while,” Massel said. “I was originally going to business school. ... I applied to some schools for academics if things didn’t work out [for football].”
Massel quarterbacked York to the first state final in program history last fall, but as college interest remained lukewarm he worked on a Plan B.
Massel’s college search was complicated by several factors. More and more, college football coaches are restocking their rosters through the transfer portal rather than by recruiting high-school prospects.
And the prep recruiting that does happen has shifted earlier. Junior year is when most high-school players get seen and offered scholarships. But Massel was a backup on the Dukes’ Class 8A state semifinalist, so he was under the radar heading into his only season as a starter.
“If you don’t play as a junior, you’re kind of screwed,” Massel said. “Once you get to your senior year, [recruiters have] already moved on.”
And it’s just getting harder for prep players to get noticed.
“The 2025 class for recruiting was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to navigate,” York coach Don Gelsomino said. “Transfer portal, new rules, roster cuts.”
Massel is 5-11 and 195 pounds, but with elite speed as a Class 3A state qualifier in two events and medalist in one (the 4x100-meter relay) as a junior.
“Bruno is a kid who is undersized for a quarterback, but obviously he can run,” Gelsomino said.
Massel passed for 1,685 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall while averaging 8.5 yards a carry and rushing for 1,248 yards and 18 TDs. He was at his best in the playoffs, running 30 times for 348 yards and seven touchdowns in wins against Oswego and Warren.
Division III programs were interested in Massel as a quarterback, but he wasn’t gaining traction with bigger schools.
Gelsomino kept reaching out, though, and finally Massel got the break he was looking for.
Indiana, coming off a breakout season under new coach Curt Cignetti, had a need that Massel could address.
“They were a little bit short in the receiver room,” Gelsomino said. “They saw his film and it was a pretty quick turnaround process. It’s a good fit academically, a good fit football-wise.”
“We set up a tour and a visit,” Massel said. “It was something I couldn’t refuse. Their business school is one of the top in the country.”
And he’s fine with the position change.
“I played receiver in sixth and seventh grade,” Massel said. “I love the challenge.”
He’s looking forward to being reunited with some familiar faces from youth football and quarterback training. Naperville North senior quarterback Jacob Bell is also headed to Indiana, while Nazareth grad Garrett Reese is a freshman defensive back for the Hoosiers.
“Great athlete and great quarterback,” Massel said of Bell. “I played with Garrett four, five years on the same youth team.”
Now they’re back together at one of college football’s top programs.
“It’s truly been a blessing,” Massel said.
