WVU DL Nate Gabriel stepping outside comfort zone becoming vocal leader
WVU\\\'s defensive line taking big strides
Trending
MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia defensive coordinator Zac Alley took the podium after the first day of fall practice, setting up the expectations for the fall. He was asked what unit on the defense had the most to grow, and he mentioned the defensive line first.
"I've challenged our front four," Alley said. "I want to be better there consistently. We got some guys that are talented enough, and now it's putting it together and showing the physicality and doing their job every single day."
The Mountaineers were off to a hot start, creating disruption in the backfield, then they went the first four games in the Big 12 without a sack. The numbers picked up, torching a bad Colorado team for seven, and they finished fifth in the conference in sacks. In rushing defense, WVU's front four finished eighth.
As Alley said, there's room for improvement and a need for consistency.
Defensive line coach Willie Green went into offseason meetings looking for a leader to bring the room together, especially with all the new players, to hopefully create consistency. Green went to junior Nate Gabriel.
Gabriel played the past two seasons for WVU and started as a true freshman. He's played in 24 games over two seasons and saw action on 321 total snaps, including 286 on defense last season. Gabriel recorded 13 tackles, including one for loss and a pass breakup.
Gabriel's improved a lot this offseason technique-wise. He's taken more time off the field to really slow things down, figuring out what aspect of his game needs work. Gabriel loves watching film and seeing what he can do better.
Gabriel was a leader already. He was one of the only returning players on defense, was always first in drills and a film junky. Just by playing, Gabriel was leading.
But Green wants Gabriel to take it a step further.
"You’re a good example leader, but we need you to be more of a vocal leader," Green said to Gabriel.
Green knows Gabriel has the energy and personality to do it. He brings it every day at practice. But being a vocal leader has been a work in progress through the first couple of practices this fall. It doesn't come naturally to Gabriel. Some days Gabriel is cognizant of it and gets vocal; other times he stays quiet.
"I definitely do have to step out of my comfort zone to do something like that," Gabriel said. "Because we do have vocal leaders, but we do need more in the room."
Part of being a vocal leader is teaching the next generation of defensive linemen. Gabriel gets a lot of questions, especially from true freshman Yendor Mack and Cam Mallory. Gabriel has a lot of tips because he was one of the few college football players to have a strong enough offseason to play as a true freshman. Gabriel has been rubbing off on him.
"Cam, Yendor, them boys doing their thing," Gabriel said. "They coming off striking, especially compared to the spring."
Since Gabriel's taken over as the leader on the line, the defensive tackles have already developed a new phrase as motivation when they take the field.
"F*** it, we ball," Gabriel said. "We cut out all the outside noise, and we just focus on ourselves, and we work on what we need to work on."
There is a lot of outside noise. There are a lot of questions on the defensive front, and whether they can be more consistent this year. If WVU can't register a sack through the first couple of games in Big 12 play, it's going to be hard to win games.
It seems under Gabriel's leadership, the defensive line is on an upward trajectory.
"I think Nate Gabriel has done a phenomenal job for us up front, just being a leader," Green said. "Being a guy who sets the example and does those things. He's done a really good job."