Who's That Wildcat: DL Carmine Bastone
DL Carmine Bastone
Height: 6'2" Weight: 266 lbs
Hometown: St. Charles, IL
High school: St. Charles North
Why he chose Northwestern:
Growing up in St. Charles, Illinois, just 45 miles west of Northwestern, Carmine Bastone had always imagined what it would be like to play for the Wildcats. When it came time for recruitment, however, he hadn’t received much interest from Chicago's Big Ten team.
After considering offers from a number of Ivy League programs, Bastone committed to Cornell University in November 2020. But just one month later, he heard from the Wildcats, who presented him with a preferred walk-on opportunity (PWO).
“One of the [Northwestern] recruiters just reached out to me [in late December], direct messaged me; I think a spot opened up...they wanted to offer me a PWO,” Bastone told the Kane County Chronicle.
By January 2021, Bastone had decommitted from Cornell and finalized his spot with the Wildcats.
“I wasn’t feeling too well on going that far away from my family to Cornell,” he added. “[My PWO is] really exciting because it’s a school I’ve always dreamed of going to and playing for. I’m excited to try and earn my spot, and I believe I can.”
COMMITTED!!!@NUFBFamily @coachfitz51 @DLCoachLong @TheToddMcShane
— Carmine Bastone (@carmine_bastone) January 26, 2021
@dmeyo1 @robertpomazak #GoCats pic.twitter.com/8HwNgVNEHR
Power Five Offers:
Iowa
Group of Five Offers:
Northern Illinois
Ivy League Offers:
Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Yale
Evaluation:
Bastone’s past performances on both the offensive and defensive lines have earned him Illinois High School Football Coaches Association first team all-state honors and Chicago Sun-Times first team all-area honors. When it comes to competing with the Wildcats, however, the 6-foot-2, 266 pounder will line up on the defensive side of the ball.
“Schools have been looking at me more on the defensive line, and I feel that the defensive line is the best natural fit for me,” he told Rivals in March 2020.
During his junior and senior seasons at St. Charles North, Bastone totaled 56 tackles — 10 of them for loss — three sacks, and 11 quarterback hurries. In addition, he recorded three passes defensed, a caused fumble and a blocked punt his senior year.
Coaches have praised Bastone’s explosive first step and the strong hand fighting abilities he has recently developed.
“I've worked really hard on things like my hand fighting and just really improving my skills and fundamentals,” he told Rivals. “I just have more tools to use in my overall game.”
Playing time projection:
Northwestern’s roster lists Bastone as part of a thirteen-man depth chart that includes fellow walk-on and this year’s “Ultimate Wildcat” Joe Spivak, as well as fellow first-years Aidan Hubbard and Najee Story. While it’s unlikely Bastone will see playing time this season, he has the potential to develop into a contributor for the Cats down the line.
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Alyssa Haduck is a reporter for Wildcats Daily on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. She has also written for the Washington Football Team, the United States Golf Association, and the University of Maryland athletic department. Haduck is currently a graduate student studying sports journalism at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.