Sportsbeat Top 10: State College Linebacker Mike Gaul

STATE COLLEGE (WTAJ) — The highs and lows of the college recruiting trail haunt even the best players in the state, like State College’s all-state linebacker Mike Gaul.

“You get people telling you all the time that they don’t like you enough and you’re getting rejected,” he said. “But at the same time you have the people, that you always dreamed of, saying, we know what? we like you, we want you to come play for us.”

One of those coaches who wants Gaul, is former Nittany Lion defensive coordinator and Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry. The Hokies are one of a number of Division I schools offering Gaul. Still, the three-star prospect isn’t insulated from rejection and those disappointments are motivators.

“I go the next day, I sleep on and be like, You know what? They said no to me, I can’t wait to show them why they’re wrong,” Gaul said. “There’s a reason why you don’t say no to me, and I’m going to a prove to you every single day and I make it your worst nightmare that you said no to me.”

“Mike is the most competitive guy I’ve coached in 21 years,” said State College head coach Mike Lintal. “He’s he is just one of those guys that is just it doesn’t matter what he’s playing. He’s going to compete. And he’s one of those guys that he takes that edge with him everywhere he goes.”

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In each of the last two seasons, Gaul has eclipsed the 100 tackles mark. In three seasons he has 278 tackles, and five sacks. But those numbers aren’t his concern. Mike is far more worried about the four losses from a season ago, a letdown of sorts after State College played in a 6A semifinal, going 13-1 in 2022. Mike finds loss a motivator both off and on the field.

“I’m extremely excited to watch him this year,” said Lintal. “He is coming into workouts with just a different sense of urgency. He knows what it means and I think he’s a kid that is going to just absolutely have a monster year.”

“With the one last trip I have with all my guys that I’ve been growing up with, I want to beat the crap out of everybody that plays us,” he said. “Every single team. Every single person that thinks that we don’t have it in us, I want to prove every single play, every single down that we got that in us…. I want to leave a legacy and for everyone that’s going to come after us.”

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