Jake Gall is a top talent in the Pacific NW this season and tonight he locked down his college plans switching from PSU to EWU.
One of the most complete players in the Region this season is Jake Gall of Cle Elum High School in Washington. The two way star literally tore it up at Running Back and at Linebacker. At camps and clinics he was dominate and that paired with back all state seasons made him a hot recruit.
Over the Summer he pledged himself verbally to Portland State after they offered him and he did a visitation. Then the EWU Eagles came after him as well and made him an offer to play for them on scholarship. While that was enticing he was not going to back out on the Vikings.
The season came and went and it is easy to see that the Vikings faltered and the Eagles flew. It happens. Teams have ups and downs. So Gall who is from Eastern Washington had a lot to consider. The location, the fit, the difference between a City college and playing in a rural arid place like Cheney. The team and coaching came into play too.
“I went to EWU on an official visit this last weekend. From the moment I walked on to the campus it just felt like home. It is not really any one thing but it is everything. The guys, the coaches, the school and town, the success they are having. It just felt like family from top to bottom,” said Gall.
It felt so much like family that Jake decided to switch his commitment to the Eagles from PSU. That was not easy but in his case it was the right thing.
Coach Lester Towns who is the Portland State linebackers coach called him today from the pass into Cle Elum to let him know he was coming to try and change his mind.
“Coach Towns came to school and asked if we could talk. So I went over it all with him. I explained to him that there was nothing more that PSU could have done to recruit me. They did a great job and have an awesome program. But for me I felt so drawn to EWU that it was not something I could change. I think he understood,” said Gall.
What he did is never easy. Few kids can do this. Most stay with pledge even if they have doubts. But this is all going to work itself out for the better and no school is going to land all the guys they go after. PSU has had the most success recruiting the top guys his past couple of years too.
“My Coaches are happy as they want to come up from Cle Elum and see me play. My parents will be about 2 1/2 hours away too and will make our home games. And the Tradition of excellence at EWU is undeniable. They know how to win and they are going to give me a great opportunity to be a part of that. It is going to be a great fit for me.”
So Gall is off the Vikings board and over onto the Eagles. This is a big get as this kid has the “X” factor and is a stand out not doubt. We are happy for Jake and his family and we know that as one door closes another door opens. Someone else has likely already lined up their future on his spot in the Park Blocks in Portland.
Great story for a great kid who in the end stayed closer to home!
