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Gamble sets his sights on Illinois
By CHRIS EASTERLING
Chris.Easterling@IndeOnline.com
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In the end, it was a familiar face which was the deciding factor in Brian Gamble?s college decision.
The Massillon Tiger senior elected on Tuesday to commit to the University of Illinois to play football. A big reason behind the decision was former Tiger Antonio James, who just completed his freshman season with the Illini.
?It?s real good to have somebody there that is taking care of you,? Gamble said. ?That helps a lot.?
Gamble paid the Champaign campus a visit last weekend, where he was reunited with James. That comfort level helped in separating Illinois from fellow Big Ten member Minnesota, which was the other primary suitor for the two-time All-Ohioan?s services.
?It was just the people there,? Gamble said. ?I just felt the most comfortable with the coaches at Illinois. It was really just what I felt. Antonio was telling me all the good things about the school.?
Still, it was Gamble?s decision at the end of the day.
?It wasn?t really any one thing that was said,? Gamble said. ?It was just everything together. Really, there was nothing but good things about it. I just feel it?s the best place for me.?
The decision brought an end to the recruiting process for Gamble, who wasn?t the least bit disappointed about that.
?It?s nice just to have all these coaches stop calling,? Gamble said.
The one thing which is still lingering for Gamble is the academic question. The Tiger senior admits he has not yet qualified academically, something which could hamper him in his quest to play immediately at the school.
?I?m on the path to qualifying,? Gamble said. ?I?m confident I can get it done. The coaches have talked to me about it. We have a plan worked out.?
The Illini coaches also have a plan for Gamble once he does set foot on the field.
?I?m going to play safety,? Gamble said.
Safety is what Gamble has said from the start that he wanted to do in college, primarily because, as he said before the season, ?I like to hit.? It is also where he twice earned first team All-Ohio honors, and was chosen as Northeast Inland District Defensive Player of the Year this season.
In his senior season, Gamble recorded 46 solo and 24 assisted tackles from his strong safety position, despite missing a game-and-a-half of action due to an ankle injury. He also had a team-high three interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.
As a tailback on offense this past season, Gamble rushed for 975 yards and nine touchdowns. He added another 315 yards and four scores on 22 catches.
In his junior season, he rushed for 1,512 yards and 17 scores, while adding another 631 yards receiving and four scores. It was his key third-and-30 reception against St. Edward in the state semifinals which eventually helped carry Massillon to the come-from-behind win and a spot in the state title game.
Gamble is just the latest Stark County product to cast his lot with the Illini and head coach Ron Zook, himself a Loudonville native. Besides James, two other Stark graduates are currently on the Illinois roster in McKinley?s Joe Morgan and GlenOak?s Ryan Palmer.
The Illini was 2-10 this past season.
This past season was Zook?s second season at the helm of the Illini, after spending the previous three seasons as the embattled head coach at the University of Florida. It was Zook who recruited a large majority of the Gator players who will be on the field when No. 2 Florida takes on Ohio State for the national championship on Jan. 8.
?He?s just a high-energy guy,? Gamble said of Zook. ?He speaks what?s on his mind. He?s not going to lie to you.?
