Offers start flowing for St. Rita's Gaston

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Bruce Gaston is fast becoming a household name among major college recruiters. Not bad for a kid who has played football for only three years, didn’t start the first three games last season and didn’t receive his first scholarship offer until a month ago.

Now the 6-3, 304-pound junior defensive tackle from St. Rita has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Virginia, Wyoming, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Western Michigan.

And more are on the way.

‘‘I’m still weighing my options,’’ he said. ‘‘I won’t commit early. I want to see what I have at the end of the season. I would love to have offers from Iowa, Arizona, Notre Dame, Florida State and Miami. My dad says my time will come, that things will work out for the best.’’

St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said if Gaston had played the first three games of last season like he played the last three games, he would have 50 offers by now. But it took time for the inexperienced youngster to learn proper technique, harness his power and realize his enormous potential.

‘‘When coaches see him personally, that’s when it hits people. They say: ‘Wow, he is as big as they say he is.’ Not many kids are that big and can move,’’ Kuska said. ‘‘He is one of the best prospects we have had. They don’t make kids like this very often.’’

Gaston describes himself as a ‘‘football fanatic’’ but he didn’t play the game until high school because his elementary school didn’t field a team.

Instead, he grew up playing basketball and baseball. But he always looked forward to freshman football at St. Rita. He says the recruiting process is as much fun as sacking a quarterback.

‘‘The last few weeks have been an exciting time for me,’’ he said. ‘‘I want recruiters to know I am quick off the ball and aggressive. My main goal is to get to the quarterback and ballcarrier. Football is so exciting. You can go crazy and hit someone legally. I’m working with what I have and I feel pretty good about it.’’