On Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, five members of North Penn’s league and district championship football team announced their college choices.
John Garland – Bloomsburg University (Football)
Major: Physical Science
Final list of colleges: Bloomsburg, Shippensburg, Kutztown
Reasons for choosing Bloomsburg: “I felt comfortable with the coaches, and I loved the campus.”
Coach Dick Beck says: “He’s got great size – he’s 6-4, 320, and he’s matured and improved by leaps and bounds since his sophomore year. I still think his better days are in front of him. If he makes as much improvement in college as he did in high school, then he could play in the NFL, but he’d have to make that much improvement. He’s developed an aggressiveness, and he played his best during the playoffs. Especially during the state championship game, he played very well. I think Bloomsburg got a steal here.”
Dan Gevirtz – Bucknell University (Football)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Bucknell, Delaware, Lafayette
Reasons for choosing Bucknell: “The great education it offers, and one of my role models from back in the day – Tyler Smith – is a starting running back there.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I didn’t think I was going to play college football until midway through my senior year. I was pretty set on not playing, but I was having way too much fun, and I couldn’t give it up.”
Coach Dick Beck says: “Dan is only 165-170, so I think when he starts to develop physically and starts putting some weight on, I could see him being a three or four-year starter at the safety position. I know he likes to play offense, and he could also play the slot, catch balls out of the backfield. He’s very versatile. There are many positions he could play. I like him in center field because he’s got a lot of instincts, and he has great ball skills.”
About Dan:
Favorite music: Country
Favorite movie: Friends With Benefits
Favorite food: Cheesesteak
Ralph Reeves – West Chester University (Football)
Major: Criminal Justice
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Bloomsburg
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “Bloomsburg might have had a better winning tradition the past couple of years, but academically, West Chester is ranked (93rd nationally) for state schools, and my major was a big part of my decision. I want to be a police officer, hopefully a state trooper, and they have a great criminal justice system at West Chester. They have a lot of connections to get hooked up with for internships and jobs after school.
“Every school was recruiting me for defense, and West Chester has a scheme that will allow me to play early on.”
What was the progression that led you to playing Division II football? “I went from thinking I was going Division One to I was lined up with some D1AA schools to finally settling on Division II. West Chester has a great program.
“My good friend since grade school, Dom Taggart, goes there. I’m good friends with Mike Culbreath. I know a lot of people there, and it came down to where I’m going to be most comfortable.”
Coach Dick Beck says: “I’m a little disappointed that he wasn’t a full scholarship player. I think sometimes you have to look past the measurables and look at the things you can’t measure. He possesses a lot of that stuff. It’s hard to measure toughness, guts and leadership, and all that said, he still has a ton of ability. I could see him being a tackle machine at West Chester, playing early and often. He’s the kid most ready to play right now.”
About Ralph:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: Super Troopers
Favorite music: Country
T.J. Smink – Shippensburg University (Football)
Major: Exercise Science
Final list of colleges: Shippensburg, West Chester, East Stroudsburg
Reasons for choosing Shippensburg: “Shippensburg stressed academics first – it’s academics above football, and I really enjoyed that because I’m a student-athlete to begin with. They also showed me that they are a family. It’s a bunch of guys that came together in a few short years, unlike how it is here because the guys in high school have known each other since grade school. In a couple of years, they have created a bond there that I didn’t see that in any other school that I visited. That really impressed me the most.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? ‘It probably was the middle of my senior year that I realized I wanted to play in college because I finally got the notion that I’m somewhat good at this, and I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to stop playing sports, and I knew my baseball career was slowly going down the drain. I figured I wanted to keep playing sports in college, so I might as well stick with what I’m good at.
“I lost so much sleep over this (college decision). The three days before signing were just terrible, but now I feel great. I feel like I made the right choice for myself.”
Coach Dick Beck says: “He’s a great leader, a hard worker and a good team player. He’s good with the gun snap as a center, and I think that’s important with all these colleges using all the spread formations in the gun. He’ll do well at Shippensburg. If he stays healthy, I could see him playing three or four years.”
About T.J.
Favorite food: My dad’s homemade chili
Favorite music: Country
Favorite movie: The Sandlot
Shane Watson – Shippensburg University (Football)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Shippensburg, West Chester, Bloomsburg
Reasons for choosing Shippensburg: “They have a great program. I really felt like they’re a good family. They’re a bunch of great kids, and it seems like I’ll fit in perfectly.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I always knew I wanted to play college football. I didn’t know if it was going to be D-I or D-II, but I didn’t think it really mattered. I love football, and I just wanted to keep playing. I’ve been thinking about playing college football since middle school. It was a long process, it was stressful, but it’s worth it.”
Coach Dick Beck says: “Shane has got a lot of up side. They want him to play D-End, and for a defensive end, he’s a little bit light. They’ll want him to put some weight on. I could see him getting up to about 245 and really being a dominant player at that position with his hand on the ground, pass rushing. He could play tight end also.”
About Shane:
Favorite food: Chicken wings
Favorite movie: White Chicks
Favorite music: Rap
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