Pitt FB Recruiting
Will Gipson Turning Heads at Aliquippa
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Aliquipppa’s Will Gipson is thriving in first-year head coach Mike Warfield’s spread attack.
Through eight games, the senior wideout is averaging an astonishing 31 yards per catch. With two games remaining in the regular season, he’s 48 yards shy of a 1,000-yard campaign and has already scored 12 touchdowns.
Under the previous coaching regime, Gipson split time between wide receiver and quarterback, and he even took over for starter Eli Kosanovich late in the year last season after Kosanovich suffered a season-ending injury. Warfield quickly put an end to the position juggling.
He’s kept Gipson split out wide, and with Kosanovich back behind center, the quarterback and wide receiver duo has been lethal. At any point, Gipson is liable to make a house call. All he needs is space.
Bye bye @Evolve2_10ths @EverythingQuip 🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/MY0LhWaIX9
— Will Gipson (@TrxllWill3) October 6, 2018
“We’re not afraid to make mistakes,” Gipson said of Warfield’s offense. “He will help us, guide us, so that we won’t make the mistake again, rather than yell or make a big deal out of it. We’re having fun with; we’re comfortable.”
Gipson has benefited the most from the addition of former Penn State wide receiver Derek Moye to the Aliquippa coaching staff. Moye has worked closely with the senior to become a more technical route-runner.
“We work on the top of our routes and coming in and out of breaks,” Gipson said of Moye. “Our stances, how to get a faster burst coming out of your stance, rather than being lazy off the ball, and working the first five yards, getting the cornerback on his heels, making them guess which way we’re going.”
Gipson committed to Ball State back in June, but his monster senior campaign has larger schools pouring into Carl A. Aschman Memorial Stadium. On Monday, Rutgers offered the 6-foot-3 receiver, Gipson’s first Power Five conference offer.
“I was shocked,” Gipson admitted. “That was the first Power Five school to show interest in me, and for me to get an offer is surreal, very surreal.”
Rutgers is not the only Power Five program pursuing Gipson. Pitt, Penn State, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas State, and Michigan State have also been in contact.
“They like my frame, how I’m 6-3, 185 pounds, and I can move, and my athleticism, saying I fit perfectly into their offense,” Gipson said of the feedback from coaching staffs.
Blessed to receive my first Power5 from Rutgers University #scarletknight ⚔️🛡 pic.twitter.com/O9cL3F6agZ
— Will Gipson (@TrxllWill3) October 16, 2018
PSN learned earlier this week that Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi will attend Aliquippa’s Friday night game against Keystone Oaks to watch Gipson and teammate MJ Devonshire. Both players would be significant recruiting hauls for Narduzzi.
When pressed if he’s still a firmly committed to Ball State, Gipson left it open-ended.
“Honestly, I just have to keep doing what I have to do,” Gipson said. “I committed for a reason, but my options are always open.”
Aliquippa is rolling towards the playoffs, but last season taught Gipson and his teammates anything can happen.
“Last year we’re in the same position at the time we are this year, and we didn’t even win WPIAL’s,” Gipson said. “We’re focused this year, so we can win something our senior year.”
