Gage hopes to make most of opportunity at Pitt State

Brayden Gage is ready to take the next step in his football career as he joins the Pittsburg State football team this fall.

The decision wasn’t an easy one
for Brayden Gage, but the one thing the recent Louisburg graduate wanted to do
was to play college football.

The idea of playing football at the next level was a simple one for Gage, but he wanted to make sure he found the right place. As it turned out, Pittsburg State was the best fit for him.

Gage accepted a preferred walk-on spot to play for the Gorillas in the fall and he is looking forward to the opportunity of playing Division II football.

“I am very excited,” Gage said. “The
process was long, and I think I waited too long, but I am glad to finally know
where I am going and what I am doing. I think I went on about six visits and it
was pretty tough. I wasn’t sure on what I wanted to do and I didn’t know where
I wanted to go, but I am glad to have the opportunity at Pitt State.”

Gage received offers from Baker,
William Jewell and Ottawa, but none felt like they were the right fit. Then the
opportunity arose with the Gorillas and he was able to connect with the
coaches, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

“The defensive coordinator is also
the safeties coach at Pitt,” Gage said. “He is the one that has been talking to
me and I really like him. The rest of the coaches are great guys and they have
a lot of experience. I am ready to go down there and get to work.”

Along with a new team comes a new
position. Gage, who played cornerback in high school, will move to the safety
position in college.

Gage was a first team All-Frontier
League wide receiver last season as he led Louisburg with 283 yards through the
air. He also had 258 yards rushing and a total of five touchdowns.

He hopes the speed he displayed on
both sides of the ball last season will translate well at his new safety
position.

“I am excited about the change and
I think it is going to be a good move,” Gage said. “At the Division II level,
the corners are all really tall because they have to match up with the
receivers, so I think I will fit in better at safety.”

His time with the Louisburg
football team was a memorable one as the Wildcats finished this past season
with a 10-1 record and a regional championship, before falling to eventual
state champion Bishop Miege.

However, Gage realizes his
experience with Wildcat football was more than just about wins and losses.

“Louisburg football is amazing,”
he said. “I could talk a lot of about it, but then I would be here all day. It
is a true brotherhood. The friendships you make are going to last forever and I
had a lot of fun these last four years. It is a hard sport, but it is worth it.”

Now, Gage will leave his Wildcat uniform behind and he will solely focus on Pittsburg State. He hopes to use that walk-on spot and turn it into something bigger and he might the get the opportunity to see some former Wildcats on the other side of the field.

“I just want to work hard every single
day and see what happens,” Gage said. “I would love to have a scholarship maybe
my junior or senior year. I am very excited to play against the competition
down there. Kiefer (Tucker) is going to Emporia State, and that is our rival,
so I will be pretty excited to go up against him one day.”