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Plenty of fight in Montini lineman
By Bob Sakamoto
Tribune staff reporter
October 18, 2007, 7:15 PM CDT
Most big guys have somewhat gentle, easy-going natures. But once in a while, Mother Nature gets the combination wrong.
Meet Garrett Goebel, Montini's intimidating 6-foot-5-inch, 270-pound force with the mentality of a state champion wrestler. Goebel gobbles up linemen on both sides of the ball like so many pancakes at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
The aggressiveness that led to a 55-1 record and a Class AA heavyweight title last winter has him sprinting across the field to chase down a screen pass. It's no wonder opponents are always running plays away from Goebel, who has made an oral commitment to Ohio State while turning down Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame and Arizona State, among others.
Even double-team blocking doesn't always work.
"I use my wrestling skills?quick feet and good leverage?and that really helps with getting off the line quickly and shedding blockers," Goebel said. "I think wrestling is the toughest sport as far as conditioning. That helps me in the fourth quarter. When other guys are tiring, I keep going."
Which does Goebel like better, offense or defense?
"I like playing defense a lot better," said Goebel, who is rated the No. 3 high school heavyweight wrestler in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News. "I'm always coming at you as hard as I can. I'm looking to smash somebody on every play. Yeah, guys do back off sometimes because of my size and strength."
Among his 47 tackles are six sacks and 19 other tackles for loss. He has forced one fumble and deflected four passes.
NJ-Buckeye;964556; said:You start talking about DTs that are super star wrestlers and me and Mili get goosebumps... put this one next to Larimore... and mayhem is in order for any line they face... plus there is no escape for ball carriers.. wrestlers wrap up...
"I would have all of my Offensive Lineman wrestle if I could."
- John Madden, Hall of Fame Football Coach
"Well-respected by coaches and teammates for his tough, aggressive nature (comes from his prep wrestling background)"
- NFL Draft Scout on Alex Stepanovich
"One of the messages Denney hopes to relay to the Valley high school coaches and athletes is that wrestling is the perfect complement to football. While football is in its offseason, wrestling provides the perfect opportunity for the athletes to remain active, while working on their agility and conditioning, Denney said.
Shawhan can attest to Denney?s theory, also having an extensive gridiron background. Along with playing semi-pro football, Shawhan also has years of being an assistant football coach throughout the Rio Grande Valley (Mission High, Harlingen High, PSJA High, McAllen Memorial and McHi).
"In Texas, everyone knows that high school football is king," Denney said. "I?m telling you, though, Texas is catching up in wrestling. And a lot of the football coaches are realizing how much wrestling can help their football team. And believe me, that?s the truth. I know it firsthand. You have to remember when I started out I was a football coach in high school, and I would go to the wrestling team and get everyone that could to sign up for my football team."
- By Wade Baker,The McAllen Monitor MCAllen, Texas.
"My football coach told me, 'You better get in wrestling or I'll beat you up,'"
-- Tim Lee, Texas High School All-American
Lee said that wrestling helps him on the football field because he knows he has to stay low.
"In wrestling, you've got to have self-discipline and self-motivation. As a lineman, it's the same thing ... me vs. you. He brings that mentality to the football field."
- Lee's High School Football Coach, Tim Howard
"Some of Matt Roth?s intensity can also be attributed to his successful run as a state-champion wrestler in high school. Many coaches, scouts and wrestlers-turned-football-players will laud wrestling for the leverage and quick hands it provides for football. Roth credits wrestling for the never-say-die attitude it gave him.
"It?s the attitude. (Wrestling) helps you with your hips, your hands and your balance, but more than anything it helps you with your attitude," he said. "A lot of these kids that are basketball players, we eat those kids up. It?s just our mentality - you?re going to get the job done and you?re going to punish them."
Roth said his dream partner on the wrestling mat would be Ravens LB Ray Lewis, himself an accomplished high school wrestler."
-- By Chris Neubauer, Pro Football Weekly
Mr. Incredible;964965; said:I 100% agree. Looking back, wresting provides tools that are invaluable on the football field. I only wish I wrestled more than just my senior year for that experience, as it provided me particular insight on leverage and controlling opponents. Re: Stephen Neal, OL, New England Patriots.
NFL Players That Wrestled
"It?s the attitude. (Wrestling) helps you with your hips, your hands and your balance, but more than anything it helps you with your attitude,"
NJ-Buckeye;964556; said:You start talking about DTs that are super star wrestlers and me and Mili get goosebumps... put this one next to Larimore... and mayhem is in order for any line they face... plus there is no escape for ball carriers.. wrestlers wrap up...
MililaniBuckeye;965095; said:It should be some sort of unwritten law on the OSU recruiting staff...no DT offers unless they've wrestled in high school.
tlinc;966277; said:I remember a couple years back reading a quote from an opposing coach in a preview magazine where he essentially said that he thought Michigan was as talented as OSU but that the OSU kids were just tougher (maybe not the case anymore as I think we have passed them talent-wise also).
I think there is some truth to statements like the one from this coach as our D really seems to have a toughness and attitude that they don't have up north. We are lucky to have athletes with great speed and size but also that toughness and blue collar attitude that you don't always find in highly rated recruits.
Goebel seems to fit this mode as well as a kid with all the physical attributes you look for but also the attitude and toughness that is necessary for success in the big rivalry games in the Big 10. Can't wait to see him out there with Cam Heyward, Dexter Larrimore and the rest of our talented young D linemen.
DontSitOnTheHoo;966317; said:"If you line up the Michigan and Ohio State kids and had them run 40 yard dashes, shuttles, or do power cleans, the Michigan kid would probably win. But the Ohio kid is tougher and thats the microcosm of the two programs."
I think that was the quote.
DT Garrett Goebel, Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic - The Broncos fell for the first time this season in a showdown vs. Addison Driscoll.
Driscoll clinched the Suburban Catholic Conference with a 13-7 win over Montini. Driscoll quarterback David Schwabe threw for 157 yards and ran for 70 more.
Goebel and the Broncos defense did a good job of containing Driscoll?s high-powered offense. Entering the contest, the Highlanders were averaging 40 points per game and 405 yards of total offense.
wadc45;968064; said:
XPUNISHR;968475; said:Despite being held constantly, many times held by TWO OPPOSING LINEMEN AT THE VERY SAME TIME (In full view of Officials)
OregonBuckeye;968487; said:He better get used to it because unfortunately that's how it is at Ohio St. I think our opponents have been called for holding maybe 3 times in the last 2 years.