WVU football freshman defensive lineman Nate Gabriel will “keep getting playing time.”
Nate GabrielDefensive lineman may not have been the most high-profile addition to WVU’s 2024 recruiting class, but so far this football season, he has logged more playing time than any other true freshman.
West Virginia had a strong impression of Gabriel following the spring practices, and he was listed as the third-string nose tackle on the preseason depth chart.
“We intended to gradually integrate him into the lineup, increasing his role as the season went on,” head coach Neal Brown said Monday.
However, that strategy shifted between Weeks 2 and 3.
After Edward Vesterinen sustained a right leg injury during the second game against UAlbany, the dynamics of West Virginia’s defensive line changed significantly.
T.J. Jackson, a transfer from Troy, quickly stepped up as a starter, moving from defensive end to the interior position.
This shift meant that Gabriel would also see more playing time. The Auburndale High School product participated in 25 snaps against UAlbany, aided by the game’s scoring nature and Vesterinen’s injury in the first half.
After only playing nine snaps in the Backyard Brawl, Gabriel’s time on the field increased by 60 percent during WVU’s Week 4 win over Kansas, where he participated in 15 out of the 72 offensive plays. He recorded two total tackles.
“He tried to make a play behind one block, which hurt us, but overall he had a positive impact,” Brown said. “He generated a good push, allowing Hammond to play into the boundary more. He’ll keep getting playing time, and I’m really excited about him.”
In his first three games this season, Gabriel has tallied five total tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
As a consensus three-star recruit from central Florida, he achieved an impressive 58 tackles for loss and 12 sacks throughout his high school career, including 26 tackles behind the line of scrimmage during his senior year.
