Kane County recruiting notebook: St. Charles North’s Bastone, Nubin headed to Big Ten as preferred walk-ons

Instead of playing college football over 700 miles away from St. Charles, St, Charles North senior Carmine Bastone will have a much easier drive.

Bastone, who previously committed to Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., accepted a preferred walk-on opportunity with Northwestern. Bastone, an offensive and defensive tackle, reopened his recruitment on Jan. 22 before finalizing with Northwestern four days later.

“I wasn’t feeling too well on going that far away from my family to Cornell,” Bastone said. “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.”

The Wildcats earned their second Big Ten West division championship in three seasons this past season and made an appearance in the Big Ten championship came against Ohio State. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald recently signed a 10-year contract extension, tying him to the university until 2030.

“[My PWO is] really exciting, just because it’s a school I’ve always dreamed of going to and playing for,” Bastone said. “I’m excited to try and earn my spot and I believe I can.”

Bastone totaled 29 tackles, five of them for loss, in 2019 for the North Stars. The 6-foot-2, 260-pounder also added two sacks and three quarterback hurries. The delayed fall football season is scheduled to start in March and Bastone is ready for the six games he’ll have.

“We’re just excited. We finally get a chance [to play]. We have six games, but you know, six games is all we need,” Bastone said.

Jordan Nubin headed to Minnesota, joins older brother, Tyler Nubin

From playing together in the backyard, the Nubin brothers will soon be re-united on the collegiate field.

St. Charles North senior defensive back Jordan Nubin officially accepted a preferred walk-on opportunity with the Minnesota last week.

After an extensive and exhaustive year-long process to transform his body and add weight, Jordan Nubin will soon join former Kane County Chronicle Player of the Year Tyler Nubin, who just finished his sophomore season as a starting safety for the Gophers.

Tyler Nubin made his first career start against Michigan, finishing with eight tackles and one forced fumble on Oct. 24. Nubin finished the season with 41 tackles over seven games.

“Over the years, it was something we always talked about with the school, like if I get to certain size or something, I’d have an opportunity to come and try to play,” Jordan Nubin said. That’s always been on my mind...I never thought I’d actually be here, but [it was] definitely something I was working towards.”

“That’s just what is going to want me to work even harder when I get up there: the chance of me being able to get on the field with my brother in these next two years when he’s [at Minnesota],” Nubin said. “I just want to work my hardest so I can get on the field with my brother.”

The Minnesota football culture, Nubin feels, is “exactly how North runs their program.”

“It’s the same type of culture. We always want to be the best and we always want to win,” Nubin said. “That’s the type of program that North has and I can just see myself playing in that type of program again.”

Batavia’s Sartain heads to UW-Stevens Point

Batavia senior defensive lineman Eric Sartain was sold.

“I think that really starts with head coach [Greg Breitbach],” Sartain said of the football culture. “He really bought me into what he wanted to do next year. He really thinks he’s got a team next year he can win [with]. That’s what Bulldog culture is, it’s winning.”

Sartain weighed interest from schools including Benedictine University, UW-Superior and others. Sartain visited Stevens Point in November, coming away impressed with the campus and football facilities. He officially committed last week.

The 6-foot-1, 255-pounder had 27 tackles, seven for-loss and 1.5 sacks in 2019. Sartain gained 15 pounds from a year ago, and “feels really good” with his individual speed and quickness he’s got.

“I feel like I’m pretty mobile because I’ll be playing end,” Sartain said. “I just feel really mobile and good with my weight.”