Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/541265
P R E V I E W M ike Gesicki can dunk a basketball and make it look easy. He can spike a volleyball with explosion, and, of course, when the football is thrown in his direction, there are few defensive backs – and fewer linebackers – who can defend him. When Gesicki signed his letter of intent in February 2014, the four-star recruit was one of the most coveted prospects in Penn State's class. His natural athleticism was nearly unmatched and his highlight reel was one to behold. There was, however, one thing that didn't come as naturally to him. Penn State, along with more than a dozen other college programs, had offered Gesicki a scholarship as a tight end. But during his high school career at Southern Regional in Mana- hawkin, N.J. – in addition to being an All-State volleyball and basketball play- er – Gesicki prima- rily played wide re- ceiver. Even though he was settling into a new position during his first season at PSU, Gesicki saw live action in 12 of the Nittany Lions' 13 games, earning one start and fin- ishing the year with 114 yards on 11 receptions. Running routes and catching the football, though, were never the problem. In fact, he made that part of the game look easy. Blocking, whether it's oncoming pass rushers or driving a linebacker out of the way in the run game, is where a curve has been required. "He didn't do it before," said John Dono- van, Penn State's offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. Donovan, like Gesic- ki, is a New Jersey native, and he played an important role in keeping the highly regarded prospect committed to PSU after the Nittany Lions underwent a coaching change during Gesicki's senior year. "He played wideout in high school, so we bust his chops a little bit on that now that he has to play with his hand in the ground a little bit. So he's made a very concerted effort to try to get better at that." Simply getting comfortable with a three- point stance, after spending his prep career split out wide or in the slot, was part of the learning process as a true freshman. Footwork, fundamentals, tech- nique, pad level – all of that, too. But after almost one complete year in Penn State's system, Gesicki is beginning to see the necessary growth, both figuratively and literally. "Something that I really focused on and Coach [James] Franklin and Coach Dono- van told me that I really need to work on was, obviously, my blocking," said the 6- foot-6, 255-pound Gesicki. "It was some- thing I really needed to focus on in the off-season. I was able to put on about 20, 22 pounds in the off-season and just worked hard. It's more footwork than any- thing." Going from a primary pass-catcher to an all-around tight end requires a different mentality on the playing field, too, one that Gesicki has learned to embrace. "I just bought into it," he said. "It's all a mindset when it comes to blocking, so I just kind of bought into it. Like Coach Franklin always says, you just have to buy into things. I bought into it, and it ended up working out. I feel like I've gotten a little better at blocking and understanding the game more." Maybe he's learned to embrace it, be- cause, if nothing else, he was forced to do so during practice last fall and this spring. Lining up against what was one of the best defensive front sevens in the country a year ago, it has been a rite of passage, of sorts, for Gesicki. Taking on pass-rushing defensive ends like Deion Barnes, Carl Nassib, Garrett Sickels, even mixing it up with the defensive tackles, heavyweights like Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson, has sharpened his technique and hardened his shell. Gesicki calls it a "fight" every single day. "When I say fight, I mean fight," Gesicki said. "They definitely gave us a fight, which is good." The impulse to improve extends beyond just Gesicki, a greenhorn in the blocking aspect of football. It also helps the veteran tight ends, as well as the offensive line, a unit striving for major progress this off- season. "We've got some of the best D-linemen in the country, and that can be one of the best things – can be one of the hardest things, too – but it's definitely making me better, making our tight ends better, making our offensive line better every single day," Gesicki said. "Going against competition like that, the only choice you have is to get better. Sometimes you might get beat up, [but] it's only going to make you better." The team, as a whole, benefits, too. But especially someone like Gesicki. As he becomes a stronger cog in the run game, it will only enhance his ability to get open to catch passes. If his improvement in the | HEAVY DUTY Gesicki played in all 13 games and made one start as a true freshman, finishing his first season at Penn State with 11 catches for 114 yards. He's since added about 20 pounds and is considered one of the Nittany Lions' rising stars. Photo by Steve Manuel