Gaia, center, at the Semper Fi game. Photo courtesy of BSD user NewJackCity
We're using the interminable off-season to take a closer look at the recruits who stood by Penn State in the face of, well, everything that happened since early November. Today, it's Brian Gaia's turn. He chose Penn State very early in the recruiting process (if you haven't noticed, we're running these profiles in the order they selected PSU):
Gaia’s first visit to Penn State came during the Nittany Lions’ 28-22 loss to Michigan State on Nov. 27. Despite the loss, Gaia said he was blown away by a packed Beaver Stadium. A return trip to State College for a spring practice gave him a more up-close look at the program.
"It was kind of cool to see Coach [Joe] Paterno in action," Gaia said. "He was a really fun guy. We had a little talk. He’s a real down-to-earth guy."
Gaia, who’s interested in studying either business or sports management, said Penn State’s academics and the Big Ten’s reputation for putting linemen in the NFL were two more factors that put the Nittany Lions "out front" for most of his recruitment.
"My family, coaches, teammates thought it was the best pick," Gaia said. "That weighed on me more than anything. It came down to an opportunity and it was the best decision for me."
Gaia was rated the #23 offensive guard in the country and #8 overall Maryland prospect by Rivals. His offer list included Boston College, Iowa, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. Scout.com evaluated him as a defensive tackle prospect, complimenting his size and strength:
Gaia gets an excellent push and keeps his pad level low while pushing blockers back with leg strength. He disengages from the blocker and locates the ball carrier to make a tackle. His strength and low center of gravity make him a run-stopper in the middle of a defense who can take on double teams and allow linebackers to make plenty of tackles. Gaia needs to improve his sideline-to-sideline speed and ability to pursue from behind. --Brian Dohn
ESPN ranked Gaia as the #13 offensive guard in the nation, noting that Gaia's "size and athleticism are better suited for the offensive guard position at the major level of competition; his frame appears capable of handling additional body mass over time." Tom Lemming complimented Gaia's versatility in selecting him for the Semper Fi and International Bowl all-star squads:
"He's super strong," Lemming said. "He's 100 percent on every play, offense or defense. His versatility was a big reason why I selected him. He can play on either side of the ball where a lot of kids either can't or they don't want to. Brian's a guy who could play offensive tackle, offensive guard, defensive tackle. He can do it all. His versatility is unique."
Gaia's versatility isn't limited to football, either. He was an excellent high school wrestler, making it to the state finals in the heavyweight division.
In late January, Gaia revealed one rather interesting bit of information regarding possible early playing time:
"They said one of the three [defensive] tackles in this class are going to have to play a little as true freshmen, so that opens up the competition between all of us. I'd really like to play as a true freshmen, but even if I did get redshirted or something like that, it would give me a year to get bigger and get used to college both academically and athletics-wise."
Finally, as we could ask of all Penn State's 2012 commits, how did the scandal affect his ultimate decision? His father Tim explains:
"We had a Plan B," Tim Gaia said, "and we were ready to pull the trigger on it, but we waited. We supported Brian. He had his reservations, and rightfully so, but he was still committed and we supported him. Is it going to be an easy road from here? I think there will be some bumps in the road. The coaches on [O'Brien's] staff that he kept and the new coaches he brought in that were in the NFL and college have unbelievable resumes. That made me feel comfortable."
About a week after the scandal broke, Brian Gaia heard from defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr., who had recruited him. One of the keys to Gaia staying with the Nittany Lions, he said, was Johnson staying on as part of O'Brien's staff.
0 recs | 18 comments
Seems like a nice
Versatile kid to have on the team.
What was the significance of the DT position being open to possible true freshman playing? Not sure I get the significance to that.
AriesGD - February 20, 2012
Because it doesn't say much for the returning depth.
Which, if you look at it, is pretty shaky and unproven.
Chris Grovich - February 20, 2012
Thats what I sort of thought
But also thought that LJ likes to rotate alot and try and keep players fresh, so that could have been part of it as well.
AriesGD - February 20, 2012
He does.
Artiefufkin10 - February 20, 2012
Yeah
Thats why I thought that comment was wierd. LJ’s penchant for using alot of linemen to keep them as fresh as possible woudl play into the decision to start a frosh over anything else.
AriesGD - February 20, 2012
I could be wrong here.
But I don’t think we’ve had to depend on too many true freshmen DT’s in the past 10 years.
Chris Grovich - February 20, 2012
Not too many
But usually there was like 1 in the mix, if they showed great potential and didn’t need the redhsirt year to get bigger or adjust to academic issues.
AriesGD - February 20, 2012
Prob not since Kennedy and Adams in '99
OmarLittle - February 20, 2012
I think DaQuan Jones got some PT.
Hard to remember any others.
Chris Grovich - February 20, 2012
Hill, maybe he was a redshirt.
BMAN13 - February 21, 2012
It IS shaky and unproven.
But it’s also coached by LJ. So I’m not worried. If the guys behind Hill and Jones/Terry step up as they’re expected, we’ll be fine. Then again, I’ve been saying that about the OL for three years.
Jeff Junstrom - February 20, 2012
The O-Line
Didn’t have LJ coaching them.
AriesGD - February 20, 2012
I wouldn't say that the DT position will see that many true frosh
Don’t most project Gaia to be a guard anyways? I personally think it’ll be hard to get on the field with Jones & Hill leading the charge, and Terry will probably see some PT. Maybe Zettel too
ICEICETHATGUY13 - February 20, 2012
He was recruited by LJ at DT.
Things could change, but he was recruited by many others at G, so LJ must have seen something.
Jeff Junstrom - February 20, 2012
Certainly versatile
When I saw him play at the Semper Fi bowl in Phoenix, I was told to expect to see him on the O-line. During the first half I noticed he was playing on both sides of the ball and he always seemed to be pushing around whoever he was lined up against. To my untrained eye, it sure seemed like he was in really good shape on either side of the ball.
NewJackCity - February 20, 2012
Well then we shouldn't be too quick to
pigeonhole him as OL or DL.
Let’s give Fitzgerald a little time to work with him.
If he’s “versatile”, odds are that he’ll work his way onto one of the lines pretty darn quick.
Willie Green - February 20, 2012
Imagine if LJ Sr. wouldn't have stayed
We’d have a NO-line instead of an O-line.
GoodOleDays - February 20, 2012
ha
ktd5048 - February 20, 2012
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