Gabe Megginson has a Gopher offer along with more than 20 others.
Gabe Megginson, 6-5, 289-pound junior offensive tackle from Jacksonville (IL) High, is one of the top lineman in the Midwest. Megginson recently picked up a scholarship offer from Minnesota in addition to Akron, California, Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa State, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Northern Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Toledo, Utah and Wisconsin.
Gopher Hole talked to Megginson about the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: Minnesota was one of the more recent offers that you have received. When did you first start hearing from the Gophers?
Gabe Megginson: I actually talked to a coach last year about this time with one of the assistants. I didn’t really talk to them much until probably a month ago.
Gopher Hole: How many offers are you up to right now?
Gabe Megginson: It is more than 20 offers.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to go many college camps this past summer?
Gabe Megginson: I went to, I think, 10 or 11 camps this past summer.
Gopher Hole: Do you remember some of the camps you attended?
Gabe Megginson: I went to Iowa, Vanderbilt, Northern Illinois, Illinois and Wisconsin
Gopher Hole: Have you thought much about what camps you might attend this summer?
Gabe Megginson: I think that the only camp that I will go to, if I am committed by then, is a weight camp wherever I commit.
Gopher Hole: I know that a lot of kids will go to camps to get offers, but once you have gotten a decent number of offers, kids will figure there isn’t a real reason to go showcase themselves since schools already know about you. Is that kind of the way that you look at it?
Gabe Megginson: Yes and I’d like to get it all done before the summer, most likely.
Gopher Hole: What is going to be the main factor in you picking School A over School B or C?
Gabe Megginson: The relationship with the coaches and how comfortable I feel around them at the university.
Gopher Hole: Do you come from an athletic family?
Gabe Megginson: My dad played high school football. My brother is a senior at the high school that I go to. He played football this year, but no Division I football players in the family.
Gopher Hole: Is your brother going to try to play college football?
Gabe Megginson: Yes. He is going to play at Rockford University
Gopher Hole: How big is he?
Gabe Megginson: He is about 6-1, 220.
Gopher Hole: Are most of the schools looking at you as exclusively as an offensive tackle or are any of them looking at you at a different position?
Gabe Megginson: I have been told offensive tackle more than not, but some say that I can be anywhere on the line, but offensive tackle is what I have heard the most.
Gopher Hole: Which side do you play left or right tackle?
Gabe Megginson: I play left, but I have played right in junior football.
Gopher Hole: What other schools besides the ones that have offered you are you hearing from? The one list I saw had Iowa, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. Does that sound right?
Gabe Megginson: Yes and a couple others like USC and Oregon.
Gopher Hole: That has to make you feel pretty proud that you have received so many offers this early as a junior?
Gabe Megginson: Yes. It is a great experience and I have got a lot of support through it all.
Gopher Hole: Do you have a preference in playing close to home or have you thought that far about that aspect of it?
Gabe Megginson: I don’t mind how far away from home I am, because I thought if I limit to where distance-wise, then I am missing out on a lot of great schools. It could be near. It could be far. I’m not sure where it will be yet.
Gopher Hole: Have you ever been to Minnesota before?
Gabe Megginson: No. I almost went to a camp there this summer, but that got cancelled. I’ll be up there at some point.
Gopher Hole: What do you know about Minnesota?
Gabe Megginson: I watched them play against Michigan State. I was actually on a trip to Michigan State and I just know that their lineman gets after it a lot and I like their offensive style and schemes. I know that they have the biggest locker room.
Gopher Hole: I know that Coach Limegrover was the coach that extended you the offer from Minnesota. What has been your relationship with him been like so far?
Gabe Megginson: It has been good. He informed me a lot so far about the University in the little time that I have known him. He is a cool coach and teaches me a lot.
Gopher Hole: What other sports are you playing at Jacksonville?
Gabe Megginson: I don’t play any sports until the spring, which is when I do track.
Gopher Hole: I’m assuming that you throw the shot and discus. Is that correct?
Gabe Megginson: Yes.
Gopher Hole: What were your best throws last year?
Gabe Megginson: Shot, best throw was 45 and discus was like 132.
Gopher Hole: Did you make it to sections?
Gabe Megginson: Yes. I made it to sectionals. I got like sixth place in discus. No state.
Gopher Hole: Are you hoping to make big strong improvements in track this year?
Gabe Megginson: Yes. I do it just for fun, but it is fun to win, too. I’ll be working at it.
Gopher Hole: Do you feel that some of the things from track help you in football such as foot work and strength training?
Gabe Megginson: Yes. Explosiveness and it definitely helps with foot work.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play for a Big Ten school since you are in Big Ten country in Illinois?
Gabe Megginson: It would be awesome. That is who you see when you turn the TV on and that is who everyone supports around here, so it would be awesome, but it is not the only place that I am looking at. I am not going to limit it to that, but it is definitely up there with my favorite conferences.