Bisontis feeling more comfortable, confident after sliding to guard

There is comfort in familiarity.

Therefore, offensive lineman Chase Bisontis might be the most comfortable football player on the Texas A&M roster.

Bisontis is moving. He’s going back to where he feels at home.

No, he’s not returning to his home state of New Jersey, although that was briefly considered.

Rather, he’s made the move inside from tackle to guard.

Guard is the natural position for the muscular 6-foot-6, 320-pound sophomore.

“It’s been good,” Bisontis said about the move on Monday. “I’ve gained some weight. I’ve gained about 10 or 15 pounds of muscle. I feel more comfortable with the heavy guys.”

Last year Bisontis arrived in College Station as a four-star guard. He was rated the No. 1 player in New Jersey, the No. 2 guard in the country and the No. 72 overall prospect.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Chase Bisontis (71) was named to the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team (OL) after starting all 13 games, including 12 at right tackle and the Texas Bowl at right guard.

But an injury to Reuben Fatheree resulted in Bisontis being shifted to right tackle where he made a dozen starts.

That’s not an easy move. Tackle requires a certain amount of finesse. The heavily-tattooed Bistonis is built more for fighting than finesse.

Playing in the powerful Southeastern Conference is tough enough. Doing it at an unfamiliar position is almost unfair.

“It was definitely difficult just because I got thrown into the fire,” Bisontis recalled. “But I had older guys like (tackle) Trey Zuhn helping me get along. It was a struggle, but looking back now it was all worth it.”

The experience gained last season likely will prove to be beneficial this year. A&M followers are relieved that it figures to benefit the Aggies.

Bisontis entered the transfer portal on Dec. 6. He was predictably inconsistent his first season at A&M. His head coach, Jimbo Fisher, was fired. Then his offensive line coach Steve Adazzio, who recruited him, was let go.

There were also issues back home in Ramsey, N.J., a suburb of New York City about 25 miles northwest of midtown Manhattan. Frankly, he was also missing the pizza and bagels.

But he liked the weather in Texas. And College Station felt secure.

“It’s a safe area,” Bisontis said. “Where I grew up it’s a little rocky. But Texas is safe.”

His parents advised him to “follow his heart.” So, on Dec. 19 he removed his name from the portal. Perhaps because he was already developing a relationship with new A&M coach Mike Elko, who is also originally from New Jersey.

“I was so far away from home,” Bisontis said. “I had some family problems back home, but coach (Mike) Elko reminded me that this is home, too. He teaches me and talks to me like a son. So, I feel real excited about it. I can talk to him about anything.”

Lately, all the talk is about how much better Bisontis has gotten and how good A&M’s offensive line can be.

Bisontis has always been a strong guy. He bench pressed 405 pounds as a sophomore at Don Bosco Prep.

But over the offseason he said he’s gained more strength and stamina. He said he’s learned a lot from A&M’s new offensive line coach Adam Cushing, too.

Now that he’s making the move back inside to guard, everything seems to be coming together.

“It’s a lot quicker inside than it is outside,” Bistonis said. “Outside is more finesse. Now, it’s just being nasty.

“I feel confident I can move (opposing) guys off the ball. Playing next to my teammates like Trey Zuhn and Mark Nabou and Ar’maj Reed-Adams … I think we’re going to be pretty good.”

A year ago, the Aggies often struggled to convert in short yardage situations. They were ranked just 91st in the nation in rushing offense, too.

Bisontis anticipates vast improvement in both areas.

“We’re going to have a real flexible offense, but we’re going to run the ball, too,” he said.

The reason for the optimism?

“Really, just coach Elko,” Bisontis said. “Everything we’ve done we’ve improved on. Everyone on the whole team has taken a step up. I just feel like it’s going to be a good year.”