Elizabeth Forward lineman Charlie Meehleib committed to Bucknell University before his senior season started. Meehleib said he’s grateful that he’s able to focus on his senior year with the stress of having to find a college fit off his back.
“Having the opportunity to commit before the season’s an absolute blessing, the whole process,” Meehleib said. “I just enjoyed it: me, my family, having the opportunity to now sit back this whole season, just worry about football and school.”
Meehleib plays all over the field for the Warriors, taking snaps as an edge rusher, on the offensive line, at tight end and long snapper. At Bucknell, though, he said his coaches plan for him to play defensive end.
“I’ve been up to campus multiple times, I’m in the position meeting rooms,” Meehleib said. “I feel like it’s gonna be a great fit and it’s gonna be a great four years of my life.”
While Meehleib described his early commitment as a blessing, the offseason came with significant hurdles for him to clear.
“I had two broken ankles, so the biggest thing was being healthy,” Meehleib said. “Start working with speed and just keep getting my strength up, those are the two big things.”
Meehleib said that when able, his offseason workouts focused on building power. He utilized exercises like power cleans, slow bench presses and squats to help him take on opposing linemen. Footwork is another point of emphasis as he prepares for Division I ball.
The efforts of those battles with linemen were obvious after the Warriors’ win over West Mifflin, when Charlie Meehleib sported a bloody nose.
“Scrappy football, at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about,” Meehleib said, describing the injury. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
