Gabe Houy, Upper St. Clair
DATA
Year: Senior
Height: 6-7
Weight: 265
Pos: OT-DT
THE SCOOP
Houy is considered one of the top offensive linemen in Western Pennsylvania. He has shed 20-25 pounds since last year and will start on offense and defense this season, after starting only on offense last year. Houy (pronounced Hoy) also plays basketball. His mother, Lori, is a reporter for WPXI-TV channel 11.
COLLEGE TALK
Houy made a verbal commitment to Pitt earlier this summer. Maryland was his other top choice, but he also visited Wake Forest, Louisville and Toledo.
OUR QUESTIONS, HIS ANSWERS
Did you want to lose the weight or was it recommended? I think it was just natural. I wanted to put on the best weight I could, rather than have excess weight holding me down.
Did you work out more? I did, but we did different workouts this year. We did some CrossFit training. It was tiring. I did more pull-ups and push-ups, and stuff like that.
With six classifications this year, no more rivalry games with Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park. Do players care about that? I think we do care. We’ll miss those rivalries, but it’s not up to us. It’s up to the WPIAL, so there is nothing we can do about it.
This year, you’d like to … Dominate on each side of the ball and do the best I can to help the team win. Really, just dominate everything.
Two things you like the most about Pitt? I think the coaches definitely and just the hometown team. Their coaches showed the most interest in me. And being able to play in front of friends and family, I think, is a great feeling.
Does [Pitt coach] Pat Narduzzi really relate well to high school kids? I think he does. He has a son who helps him relate and I think that helps him realize what’s going on in our lives.
Will you play basketball again this year? Oh, yeah. The Pitt coaches want me to play.
Really? Some college coaches might not like that? You can worry about injury, but playing basketball helps you be more athletic and be more active doing different things, like footwork. That’s good, especially for linemen.
AND FINALLY …
Now that you are going to Pitt, who is more famous, you or your mom? Well she has more followers on Twitter. She has 2,000 and some. Plus, she’s ‘verified’ on Twitter, so I think she’d be more famous. She’s definitely recognized more in public.
Well, are you starting to get recognized more? No. People just look at me more because of my size.
First Published: August 18, 2016, 4:00 a.m.