Interview Part 1: Rangy California ATH Logan Gamble wanted by colleges on offense and defense

St. Anthony High School’s Logan Gamble presents a dilemma of sorts for college recruiters, but it is the best kind of dilemma possible and that is where to play him. Gamble is a 6’5.5”, 198 pound, two-way star in Southern California lining up at wide receiver and defensive end presenting a world of options at the next level on both sides of the ball.

The where to place him scenario does not end there. Gamble could also line up as and outside linebacker in a 3-4 or, due to his frame, pack on 20-30 pounds and play tight end or even a Hybrid tight end position lining up in the slot or in the backfield as a receiving and blocking option. College coaches see all the various options and the talent. Thus far Arizona, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, Virginia, Washington State, and Wyoming have extended offers with teams like BYU, Nebraska, New Mexico State, Oregon, Toledo, Utah, and Yale showing interest.

Most immediately for the Saints, Gamble was an impact player during his junior year coming up with 15 receptions for 284 yards with 5 touchdowns. On defense head coach Mario Morales got 58 tackles out of Gamble, 13 tackles for a loss, 9 sacks, and 7 quarterback hurries. The Saints ended the 2014 season 11-2 and shortly thereafter Gamble was ranked as the No. 1 tight end prospect in the state of California by Rivals and 247Sports and the No. 11 outside linebacker by Scout.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we sat down with Logan to go over his breakout junior campaign, his offseason workouts, recruiting, and got a look ahead to how his Long Beach team will do in 2015.

 

The Saints had a great season last year going 11-2, what was the motivating factor behind the team’s great season?

“We’ve always, what the team has done in the past, team has strived to build upon that. I think the year before we went 9-4 and we lost in the first round of the playoffs. We had the goal to get to CIFs this year. We didn’t make it there but we got two steps farther.

“We motivate ourselves and what we have done in the past – each class brings a new skill level and a new factor to the team. Every year when you watch us play I think you’re going to see a new generation of football. Last year we were smaller, quicker, and skilled. This year I think we will be bigger and stronger than the teams we face. At St. Anthony’s we are always developing and that will lead us into the right direction for the program.”

Have you had a chance to look at the schedule and if so how does it lineup for you guys in 2015?

“Yes. Basically the team that we lost our first game to, Vasquez, last year and beat by 30 in playoffs, we have a bye our first week and then get them at home this year. We played them away both times last year. And then we play Wilson at home. Those two games are our most focused on games. Wilson is the cross town rival and Vasquez is a rival because we played them twice last year and the first time we lost to them we lost in overtime.

“We have the same league games and I think the only game that we have this year that is different from last year is Marina.”

Other than Wilson being your cross town rival, what makes the Wilson game a big rivalry game for St. Anthony’s?

“We are in different leagues. We are in the Santa Fe League and they’re in the Moore League. The Moore League is a league that is combined with public schools. Those schools all have attendances above 4,000. St. Anthony’s has an attendance of 450. We are that one private school in Long Beach. We’ve known these Wilson guys for a long time. We train with them, we play club ball with them, play basketball, and spend our free time with them. When we line up in the game it is kind of like The Battle of 7th Street. Both schools are on 7th Street about two miles apart.”

Leading up to the game is there any funny business between the schools pushing the rivalry forward every year?

“Not in that sense. In football we play against each other in 7×7 leading up to the game. We played each other last year. I assume we’ll do the same this year. It’s always in the back of our minds. We know when that game comes that will be our hardest competition.”

What does St. Anthony’s need to do this year in order to have a successful season?

“Me and Curtis (Weaver) are the leaders, we need to make sure that we take charge of this team. We need to make sure that we are doing the right things in practice and during the games. We need to give a lot of respect to our coaches especially the younger players. The new players that are coming onto the team playing major roles need to step up and be ready to play when it is time to play.”

What are your strengths on the field at defensive end?

“My speed off the ball, my awareness of the ball, my versatility for my size and length, and my pursuit on the ball.”

I know from looking over your stats you had nine sacks last year. One thing that will not show up in the stat sheet is that you ran over a ref to get a sack last year. How many more of those knocking down refs to get a sack moments can we count on in 2015?

“(Laughing) Uhm, at least two. A lot of the quarterbacks have been scrambling in opposite direction knowing they cannot get outside of me. So, I’ll say two or three more of those.”

(Laughing) Logan, thanks for playing along. What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“CIF Championship and for my teammates to stay healthy.”

Do you have any personal goals set for yourself like number of tackles or number of sacks for the season?

“I had goals last year and I did not reach them. I hate that I did not reach them, I was so confident I was going to reach them. This year I’m looking for at least 12 sacks. The league that we play in the quarterbacks don’t hold the ball that long so that will be kind of hard to do. I want at least 12 touchdown catches this year and more than 800 yards receiving.”

What makes you a great wide receiver on the field?

“I always run my routes hard. You will never see one of my highlights where I’m not running down the field hard whether I’m catching the ball or not. If you see the highlights you’ll see that helps the running game and I always come back to block. It sets up the wide receivers and it sets up the running backs.”

You started both ways last year, will you play ironman football again this year as well?

“Yes and even more so. I will start at defensive end and wide receiver but this year we have a new defensive coordinator and we are looking for me to play at outside linebacker. They’ll drop me into coverage in a 3-4 to play the hook and curls in coverage.

“On offense I think I’ll do more as a wide out. I’ll get more passes this year. The ball should be coming my way more frequently this year.”

What was your best game in 2014?

“I had two games, I can’t pick. The first game I was the overall player for the game but we had this kid that just balled out. He had 15 tackles, 2 sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. He played really well.

“My first game would have to be St. Genevieve. I had three sacks, a touchdown catch, and a couple more receptions. That game gave me momentum for the rest of the season. That game set my tone. I’d have to say my best game, hands down, was against Vasquez when we beat them 42-12 in the playoffs. I had two sacks, nine tackles, three receptions, and one touchdown catch. I had five targets. The other two targets were pass interferences. Those two games were the best two games I had last year.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last year?

“Not really. I was Second-Team All-League, yet I have the most offers in our division. If that makes sense, I don’t know?”

Part 2 of the interview will come out tomorrow covering Logan’s offers, schools showing recruiting interest, college camp schedule, and unofficial visits!

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: photozoto.com; No. 6 Logan Gamble