Sometimes, a guy comes along who makes media announcers salivate. Kennesaw State has that kind of guy in Bronson Rechsteiner — it's just a badass name for a badass football player. Yes, he was named for the well-known, tough-guy actor Charles Bronson. And yes … the Kennesaw fullback's father is the famous pro wrestler Rick Steiner. The HERO Sports All-American got one big shot to prove to NFL scouts that he belongs in the league … and he crushed it. It was arguably the single-best performance of any FCS athlete in this March's abbreviated Pro Day slate (before COVID19 canceled the rest of it).
Rechsteiner — pronounced "Wreck-steiner" — and as many know, "Stein" in German means rock or stone — has gone from a hard-nosed but relatively unknown fullback at Kennesaw State to a guy some NFL pundits say could go as high as the sixth round this weekend. At worst, he's going to be a high priority free agent with an extended chance to make an NFL team's roster. He told HERO Sports that's all he's asking for.
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[divider]NFL Draft Feature Stories:
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Bryce Sterk, Montana St. | Christian Rozeboom, SDSU | Jonah Williams, Weber St.
J.J. Koski, Cal Poly | Bronson Rechsteiner, Kennesaw | Pete Guerriero, Monmouth
Ron'Dell Carter, JMU | Nick Tiano, Chattanooga | Cam Gill, Wagner
Riley Stapleton, JMU | Kevin Davidson, Princeton
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"It's a surreal feeling," Rechsteiner told HERO Sports. "It doesn't take an expert to know that wrestling is in my bloodline. I've grown up in a wrestling family, and that was the vision — go to school and go be a wrestler like my dad and uncle (Scott Steiner). But God changed that path for me. I'm enjoying the process and keeping my head down and staying prepared. It'd be a blast man. I'm super thankful to be in this position that I'm in. It's crazy, to be honest with you. Never in a million years did I think I'd be in a position to be drafted or play in the NFL."
Not only is his name going to be fun for announcers, his name just oozes toughness: "I love my name. It's a little unique … but I think I'm a unique guy and player."
Indeed, he is.
He's a multi-faceted weapon, rushing for 909 yards and 7 TDs this past season. He can play the part of traditional blocking fullback with the potential to tote the rock (see what I did there?). He can catch the ball out of the backfield, something Kennesaw State's offense doesn't call for a ton, but when it did, he obliged. He also drools at the idea of playing special teams — at any spot on the unit. Returns? No problem. Want him to be your gunner? He has the speed and tenacity for it. Need a long snapper? He did that for two years at Kennesaw State and three years in high school. Like many FCS prospects, he's a ready, willing and able Swiss Army Knife contributor.
His March 11 Pro Day numbers back up how athletic and versatile he is — and remember, he's a 5-foot-10, 223-pound fullback prospect, not a waterbug-like scatback.
Here's how his Pro Day numbers stacked up against all RB prospects at the NFL Combine:
- 40 – 4.48 seconds (Would have ranked Top 10 among RBs at NFL Combine)
- Bench – 35 reps (Led all RBs by 6 reps)
- Vertical – 35.5 inches (Top 15 )
- 3-Cone- 6.95 seconds (tied for No. 1)
- Short shuttle- 4.22 seconds (No. 6)
"I enjoy being a bit versatile and doing different things and have more than one job on the field," Rechsteiner said. "I love special teams and running down on kickoffs … I feel like this makes me a more marketable guy, that I'm ready to play whatever position. I opened my eyes and gave myself an opportunity (at Pro Day) and it gave me an opportunity to get some looks. I was still kind of disappointed because I still think I could have done better because I did some better numbers in training, but I did enough. Since Pro Day I've been talking to teams and building relationships with coaches, learning where different teams want to use me, what kind of offense does this team run and where I'd fit in the best."
Rechsteiner said six teams have been in contact frequently, and like most prospects prior to the draft, he didn't feel comfortable naming them. He admitted he'd love to be Kennesaw State's first draft pick, but no matter what, he's excited about the potential of being in an NFL camp, whenever the virus allows that to re-open. Our chosen NFL Draft site — DraftScout.com — has him in good position to be drafted.
"To be the first guy drafted out of my school and for what that would do for the Kennesaw program, yeah obviously I'd love to be drafted no matter what round," Rechsteiner said. "It would be an opportunity to represent my family name in a different sport. But whether I get drafted or not, I'm going to work my tail off. Either way, I'm going to be a head hunter and try to earn a spot."
And Dad's reaction? The former University of Michigan star who went to pro wrestling and became one of the big names of the circuit?
"He's excited for me and he's excited that I'm going to get a chance to get taken," Rechsteiner said. "They all want to see me do that."
Bronson Rechsteiner may have opened some eyes of the scouts in attendance during #KSU’s pro day Wednesday. #CobbCounty #Kennesaw #Football https://t.co/kOLuItyewC
— MDJ Online (@mdjonline) March 12, 2020
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