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Player Profile: Mike Brewster

8/21/07

Nobody works harder or is more dedicated to his team than Edgewater 300-pound offensive lineman Mike Brewster

By Lucas O?Neill

This past April, Edgewater football star Mike Brewster announced his intention to attend college at Ohio State. Weeks later, Brewster was still receiving dozens of text messages per week from some of the country?s top programs.

So he changed his cell phone number and deleted all the contact information he had from other colleges. It?s not that he wasn?t flattered by the attention, but he was very much at peace with his decision to become a Buckeye.

?I wasn?t trying to be malicious toward anyone,? Brewster says. ?It?s just a respect thing for Ohio State. I gave them my commitment.?

?I play with a lot of passion,? Brewster says. ?I was just born with a real nasty mean streak that comes out in my game. People wouldn?t think that because I?m a nice guy and I?m laid back. When I get out there I?m really going to try to punish the opponent.?

Gierke, who in addition to serving as head coach also mentors the offensive line, says Brewster is perhaps the best blocker he?s ever had for one simple reason.

?I don?t think I?ve ever coached a lineman with this kind of work ethic,? Gierke says. ?His desire to be good is second to none, and I think that really sets him apart. He is tremendously focused on what he wants to accomplish.?

?It?s going to be good getting back to the Midwest,? says Brewster, who lived in Kansas City, Mo., until he was 5. ?It just felt right.?

?The first time I met him he told me he really wanted to go to Ohio State, so it didn?t surprise me that he committed early,? adds Gierke.

He?s taking classes at Valencia Community College that count toward both high school and college requirements, earning credits that should allow him to graduate in December and get a head start at OSU.

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