CLEVELAND, Ohio -- His teammates are quick to point out St. Edward defensive end Deonte Gibson has a magnetic personality, as comfortable joking around as he is demonstrating genuine concern for others. "He's a joyous kid," teammate Brandon Jackson said. "Everyone loves to be around him."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- His teammates are quick to point out St. Edward defensive end Deonte Gibson has a magnetic personality, as comfortable joking around as he is demonstrating genuine concern for others.
"He's a joyous kid," teammate Brandon Jackson said. "Everyone loves to be around him."
On the field? Gibson simply is a magnet. He draws double-teams from offensive linemen like paper clips to a positive-negative charge. And, like a negative-negative charge, his force field repels offensive coordinators, who constantly call plays designed to run away from him.
Despite those forces at work, Gibson still manages to suck in running backs and quarterbacks with irresistible power.
In 14 games this season, Gibson has a daunting 35 tackles for losses, and a school-record 19 quarterback sacks. With 11 tackles for loss and three sacks in the playoffs, he is a big reason St. Edward is 14-0 and playing Huber Heights Wayne for the Division I state championship Saturday in Canton. Gibson also will need to be a factor if the Eagles are to contain Ohio State quarterback recruit Braxton Miller, who some observers have called a smaller (6-2) version of Terrelle Pryor.
St. Edward has played against some of the best defensive linemen in the state, including St. Xavier's Steven Daniels and Toledo Whitmer's Kenny Hayes and Chris Wormley. As a St. Edward offensive tackle, Jackson has faced all of them and said none compares to Gibson.
"I haven't faced a defensive end that is more difficult to block than he is," Jackson said. "There isn't any defensive end that has matched his quickness and power. It's his instincts, too. He knows where to be and where the ball is going to be."
Gibson (6-3, 225) leads the defensive line with 104 tackles and also has been credited with 23 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. The attention he draws opens lanes for teammates to make big plays, too. St. Edward has forced 30 turnovers.
"He's an incredible athlete," defensive tackle Shane McManamon said. "He's got the speed of a wideout and strength of a lineman. Couple those things together and it makes a great defensive end. His arms are so long and he's so powerful, and when he comes off the line with that speed, he just pushes guys over."
Perhaps as striking as his productivity is Gibson's playing style. He's all-out on every snap, but coach Rick Finotti said Gibson does a good job of staying in his lane and not over-running plays. Gibson also can be a very emotional player, celebrating big plays as much as is allowed in high school ball without attracting a penalty.
"But the thing that's great is that he doesn't let emotions take control of him," McManamon said. "He plays under control. He's excited, but he stays focused."
In the heat of the moment, Gibson might even whisper to a quarterback, "I'll be back for more."
"A sack is a big momentum changer. It fires everybody up," he said. "I get excited, but I try to calm that down a little bit for the next play."
The celebrating sometimes catches his own mother off-guard.
"He's kind of humble and not one of the ones who goes out and brags about what he's accomplished," said Darlene Gibson, a journalizer for the Cleveland Clerk of Courts. "He knows he has little cousins that look up to him. When I see him yelling I'm like, 'Wow, is that Deonte?' But he loves football."
Gibson is a co-captain, highly regarded by teammates and coaches for his work ethic off the field and in the classroom. Jackson called him the "prototype college recruit, what every college wants." Stanford was among numerous schools that offered Gibson a scholarship, and recruited him as an outside linebacker. He chose Pittsburgh, which wants him to play defensive end, and he is glad to be staying closer to the family's Lakewood home.
A bit of a homebody and the youngest of five children, Gibson is close to his four brothers and sisters, especially his brother Nate Oliver. The St. Edward graduate and Ohio State junior defensive back has been a strong influence.
"We're really close and I talk to him every week," Gibson said. "He was a great athlete and great student at St. Edward and never got in trouble. He was a great worker."
Oliver played on St. Edward's last unbeaten team, which lost in the 2005 state semifinals. After St. Edward beat Whitmer in last week's semifinals, Oliver urged his brother not to take this week for granted, and Gibson, as he always does, paid attention.
"I'm enjoying every game," he said. "It's been a blessing to have the ability to play for a state championship."