Coach Speak: Juan Gaston ‘just wants to focus on the game’

Coach Goose Gibson leads the offensive line unit at Westlake High, and while he hasn’t been on campus with the Lions long, he’s gotten to know plenty about new Georgia commit Juan Gaston since arriving.

“The beautiful thing about football is the way you can connect with people. I haven’t had the offensive line job long at Westlake. I actually started back in February, and I was at Carver-Atlanta before that. The first day, I met Juan and his family. They’re a beautiful family. Sister, two younger, brothers, mom, dad…just a beautiful family,” Gibson said. “As far as him as a person from the football side of it, he’s very athletic. He’s very strong, mentally tough when it comes to the game of football, and very knowledgeable when it comes to playing the offensive line position. Me, personally, I can see why he’s a four-star offensive tackle and one of the best offensive linemen in the state. It’s been a blessing coaching him so far. We haven’t been together long, but we have the season coming up. Just imagine what we can do once we get this rolling. He’s mindful and skillful when it comes to the game. He’s physically and mentally tough. He knows the offensive line position very well.”

Getting to know the four-star lineman wasn’t exactly easy at first, but for Gibson, once the shell was cracked, a talented young man with an old soul was revealed.

“Juan is a character. He’s very funny. He’s very personable. He was quiet at first, so I asked our head coach what it was going to take to connect. He told me, ‘It’s going to take you coming to work every day.’ Once the ice melted, we were dapping each other up and hugging when we saw each other. We laugh together and crack jokes. He’s very social,” Gibson said. “He loves his teammates. They kid around and play basketball. Besides being 6-foot-8, 300-something pounds, Juan is a typical 17 year old kid. He’s just a beautiful young man once you get to know him. He wants everything to come to fruition, and he’s focused on that. He’s not with the flashy stuff. They have a joke about Juan. His teammates always say, ‘Juan, you’re one of the brokest four-stars we’ve ever met.’ With all the NIL stuff, he’s not bothered by it. He just wants to be 17, get a great scholarship, play football, and be a first round draft pick one day.”

That message has been consistent in personal conversations, as well.

“I’m not that old, but a lot of things from when I played are really different. Social media is different. These NIL deals are definitely different. He handles the pressures very well,” Gibson said. “I’ve asked him, ‘Does it get overwhelming?’ He said, ‘Nah, Coach. I can handle it. It’s not overwhelming, just annoying at times. I just want to focus on the game.’ I think he’s going to do a great job.”

What’s going to make that job all the easier is what Gibson has seen from Gaston when the whistle blows.

“Everything from hat placement to hand placement to rolling his hips. I’m an offensive line guy, and I can talk it all day. When it comes to his feet, to his combo blocking, to pushing to the second level, he has it,” Gibson said. “Step away from the skill part, he’s able to maul guys. He has such a physical presence that I remind him we have to lean back on that technique some. He moves guys well, and that’s what the position is about, moving guys from point A to point B. He does that (stuff) very well. One of his favorite plays is counter. He moves so well in space. He runs through contact, gets to his spot, uses the sideline as an extra blocker. He’s very gifted athletically. He knows how to play the position.”

Juan Gaston is the nation’s No. 187 overall prospect in the Class of 2025 per the On3 Industry Ranking.

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