Big college decision looms for Edmonds-Woodway star Gaye
Published 8:00 pm Thursday, January 12, 2017
A big decision is looming for Edmonds-Woodway football player Ali Gaye. At some point in the next few weeks, Gaye will decide where he will attend college and continue his football career.
He’s talked to a lot of college coaches during the past year or so, and has visited several campuses. He’ll be visiting three more — Arizona State, Louisville and Mississippi — during the next two weeks.
“(Those three) are the schools that I”m visiting,” he said, “but I’m open to all the schools that have (made) an offer to me. Mostly I’m looking for somewhere that I can get a good feel for. I want to make sure it’s someplace that I can enjoy as a person and not just a football player, someplace that offers a good education so that I can focus on school and get a degree.”
“He’s a mature young man,” Warriors coach John Gradwohl said. “He’s smart enough to weigh his options. His family is important to him. There’s a lot that goes into it. He’s such a nice kid that he doesn’t want to let anybody down. He would go to them all if he could.”
During the 2016 season, Gaye established himself as one of the best defensive players in the Pacific Northwest. Rated as a three-star recruit and Washington’s top defensive end by scout.com, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Gaye posted 76 tackles, 21 quarterback hurries and eight sacks in 2016. He was a first-team selection on the all-Wesco 3A South and Herald all-area squads.
“Like most Division-I athletes, there’s a genetic component (to his success). He’s a big dude,” Gradwohl said. “He basically took one side of the field away (from the opponent’s offense). But he’s also a heck of a kid, and a great leader. His character is as good as it gets. Every coach he talks to loves him. We’ll miss him a great deal.”
Gaye played his senior season with a shoulder injury which forced him to wear a brace. He said that he’ll have surgery and undergo a three-month rehabilitation period, but should be healthy for the start of his first collegiate season.
“I didn’t necessarily play to my full potential (this season),” Gaye said. “I had the injury, but I didn’t let it stop me because I wanted to go out with my brothers, my teammates, play with them one last time. I didn’t want to hold back, and I went out there and gave it all that I had. I wasn’t 100 percent, but I did what I did to help the team. We didn’t quite make it to state, but it was a good season. We were closer (as a team) than we’ve ever been. I had some great teammates and friends.”
Gradwohl said Gaye has received offers from 16 schools, and visited the University of Washington, Washington State University and the University of Southern California last year. Gaye will make a final decision by Feb. 1, which is National Signing Day.
“This is a great opportunity to me,” said Gaye, who’s considering a career as a sports marketer/agent. “To be able to further my education and (football) career, I’m excited about it. I can’t wait.”
