What Avon junior OL Sam Gerak brings to Northwestern football

Northwestern at Wisconsin - Football Highlights

AVON, Ohio Avon junior center Sam Gerak announced on his Twitter account on Monday that he has committed to play his college football at Northwestern.

The second team All-Ohioan in Division II is the No. 2 center in the country and the No. 21 prospect in Ohio for the Class of 2017 according to 247Sports.com.

At 6-foot-3, 285 lbs., Gerak, the son of former Penn State and NFL player John Gerak, has been a key component up front for an Avon offense that averaged 43.4 points per game last season.

"Sam"s obviously one of the best (offensive linemen) we"ve had," Avon coach Mike Elder said. "We"ve had a lot of good players, a lot of good linemen. But Sam has all the physical tools to go with being a good high school player."

Gerak and the Eagles went 10-2 in 2015 and reached the Division II, Region 4 second round.

When it comes to what makes Gerak a strong lineman, North Ridgeville coach Luke Durbin, who has seen him each of the last two years, pointed to Gerak"s physicality.

"I think he really is the entire package," Durbin said. "He"s got all of the physical tools.

"If you look at Avon, they mostly run the ball downhill other than when they throw to the perimeter. When they run the ball downhill, they"re usually running it behind that guy."

Northwestern finished the regular season ranked No. 13 in the final College Football Playoff rankings with a 10-2 record. The Wildcats and coach Pat Fitzgerald run a diverse spread offense based on running the ball.

When it comes to scheme fit, Elder believes Gerak will fit in very well with Northwestern"s offense.

"He"s got a high football IQ," Elder said. "He"s been working at this since he was young and has a father, who does a great job and understands the game, who works with him at home as well as getting coaches by us at Avon.

"I have no doubt he"ll transition mentally and that"s the least of my concerns. The bottom line for Sam is that he"s going to get bigger and stronger. He needs to if he"s going to be a great player in the Big Ten, which is his goal."

In addition to his Northwestern offer, Gerak had seven other offers including Illinois, Rutgers, Bowling Green and Toledo.

Source: http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/-4375352590044246843/what-avon-junior-ol-sam-gerak-brings-to-northwestern-football/