Kern: Penn's Moskal sure he's in right place now

COLTON MOSKAL didn't make a football decision. It was a life choice.

"I just started to rethink what I wanted to do once I was done with football," the Penn linebacker said. "Because that can be taken away in a heartbeat. I know there were people wondering what I was doing. But when I figured it out, this is what felt most comfortable for me.

"I just wanted the right fit. I wanted to put myself in the best position to succeed after I was out of school."

Moksal, from Lake Zurich, Ill., had gone to Syracuse for a year on a scholarship. He redshirted in 2014 and was working his way up the depth chart during practice the following spring. That's when he began to consider a change. By the fall semester he was enrolled at Penn and playing for the Quakers.

"I knew some of their coaches from when they were recruiting me in high school," said Moskal, a junior with two seasons of eligibility remaining that he intends to use. "Right now I'm getting an Ivy League education, which not many people can say. And I'm still playing college football. So I've got the best of both worlds.

"I know it was definitely strange to some people. But coming out of high school, some people were asking how I could turn down the Ivy League. It can kind of go both ways. I guess they weren't the same people asking the question (this time)."

The 6-foot, 225-pounder had 44 tackles a year ago (23 unassisted) despite playing the second half of the season with a hip flexor, as the Quakers won their last six games to finish 7-3 and get a share of the Ivy title. He already has 45 (23 solo) through five games for the 3-2 Quakers, who are 2-0 in the league heading into Friday night's game at Yale (1-4, 1-1). That's 18 more than anyone else on the team.

Just as important to him, he's an economics and math major who is trying to get into Penn's Wharton School for business. While he's not sure what field he will pursue, consulting, a legal career and politics are three possibilities under consideration.

"I just want to see if I can make some difference," Moskal said. "Other than that, I have no idea yet."

On the field, he's obviously making an impact. In more ways than just numbers.

"One of the biggest challenges with a transfer is, why are they moving and, two, what type of kid is he?" said Penn coach Ray Priore. "We knew he could play for us. But it doesn't always work out, for all different reasons. We get kids who think they can play, but how good are they? We didn't get him the first time around. We were fortunate. He just had a greater thought in mind. He wanted to make it work . . .

"You can see he's just a leader. He really takes command. He has those intangibles you cannot coach. He lives to play the game. He loves to practice. He's blue-collar. We use the word 'grit,' but with him that pops out at you. He just does all the things you'd expect."

Moskal still has friends at Syracuse (3-4), which last week upset nationally ranked Virginia Tech in the Carrier Dome for first-year coach Dino Babers. He could have been part of that. But there has never been any looking back, even though in some ways it's almost like he has two football families.

"I still follow those guys," he said. "Especially the linebacking corps there. They were some of my best friends. We keep in touch . . . It wasn't easy (leaving them). Those were some tough conversations I had, trying to explain my reasons. But they knew I was looking out for my best interests, too. Once they understood, they were so supportive. If I need anything I know I can reach out and they'll go, 'I got you.'

"When I first made the move, I can't lie, I was a little bit nervous. I was taking a leap of faith. I was giving up a lot. But it's turned out to be everything I wanted and more."

Right down to the cheesesteaks, although Moskal contends they're still not as good as a Chicago beef sandwich. But at least he doesn't have to go through those upstate New York winters anymore.

"They're very gray," he said. "There can be no sun for like three months."

And he has a chance to get another ring or three before moving on to tackle whatever's next.

"Except for the injury and playing hurt it's been pretty smooth," Moskal said. "I picked things up kind of quickly. The other guys helped me with that. Once I felt like I was part of this, I could let my personality come out. I kind of say what I'm thinking on the field. I can only be me. That's my role.

"All I wanted was a chance to contribute. You have to earn people's respect. I'm vocal. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I can't do it any other way."

Maybe he simply needed to find his right place.

@mikekerndn