Gottschalk Rising Fast in 2006 Class

A new name has emerged in the state of Virginia football recruiting circles. Sean Gottschalk , a 6-5, 250-pound tight end/defensive end prospect out of Deep Run High School (Glen Allen), is now among those in the central Virginia area who have received Division 1-A scholarship offers.

“The interest has come in a very short time,” Deep Run head coach Leonard Pritchard said. “He went to one camp last year and that was Virginia’s camp. And they liked him a lot. Then after the season I put some feelers out because he projects as a Division 1-A prospect by size alone. Then some tapes were done and sent out and then all of the sudden things started happening for him. He has been offered by Syracuse, Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Virginia Tech so far.”

Gottschalk is an excellent student who carries a 3.7 grade point average. He earned all-academic honors last season as a junior. On the field, last season was a breakout year of sorts. Gottschalk, who didn’t play as a freshman and only had spotted action as a sophomore, finished with 56 tackles and six sacks in his junior season. Offensively, he made 10 catches for 96 yards in Deep Run’s spread offense.

“His first year here he had a degenerative bone in his leg he had to get surgery on,” Pritchard said. “Then he came back his sophomore year and filled in for us here and there. Last year, he came into his own. He’s a tight end and defensive end. He’s very athletic for a big man. He runs a 4.8 or 4.9 in the 40. He plays basketball. He’s just very athletic. I think that’s what a lot of people really like about him. And I think he could possibly play either one of those positions. I think he fills a need at either of those positions.

...