Much unlike the 2008 wide receiver class, Indiana is not bringing in any new established linebacker prospects for this season, so earning commitments from good 2009 recruits is going to be essential for the IU football program. Especially with standout starting linebackers
Geno Johnson (senior) and
Will Patterson (junior) both looking at graduation in the next two years, IU will need to find some answers at the position fairly soon.
Jeremy Gainer, a rising junior at Clarenceville High School in Detroit, Michigan, could be exactly that, and he says that IU is at the top of his list.
Jeremy Gainer
Position: Weakside (Will) linebacker
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 215
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Rivals.com Rankings: 3 stars, 21st out of outside linebackers
Interested Schools: Indiana, Colorado, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue
Additional Information: Gainer received his offer from IU back in February. He has scholarship offers from Indiana, Colorado, Cincinnati, and Central Michigan, and is garnering attention from several other schools as well. Assistant coach George Ricumstrict has been Gainer’s main recruiter from IU.
He has been to IU and thinks very highly of the campus. “I have been to IU and it is a wonderful campus from what I've seen. And I love the limestone buildings,” Gainer said about Bloomington. Although he isn’t planning on attending any football camps this summer, he plans on taking another unofficial visit to IU before the summer is over.
Gainer went into considerable detail when describing his impact on the field. “I am a player that can see the field and react quick. My lateral quickness is the key,” he noted. “My other strength is being able to be a big hitter on the field.” He runs a 4.5 second 40-yard dash.
As for some aspects that he’s working on, he listed “getting low in my stance for leverage and being an even better coachable player,” as areas for improvement.
Last season he amassed 97 tackles, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in a monster year for Clarenceville.
Currently Gainer’s top three schools are Indiana, Cincinnati, and Colorado, and he stated that Indiana was his top school. On a scale of 1-10, he rated his interest in IU as a “9 because they are at the top of my list right now and really have my interest in their boat.” He plans to make his decision either this summer or early in the football season.
Analysis: Gainer would be an excellent addition for IU at a relatively shallow position. He is a great athlete and bruising hitter with a nose for the ball, and he makes plays in both the passing game and the running game. He is athletic enough to possibly play at a safety position, but he is really ideal at the weakside linebacker position.
His high school statistics really exhibit his skills (although the film backs it up). A linebacker doesn’t earn seven forced fumbles without the ability to absolutely blow up runners, and the seven interceptions would be a good total for a defensive back. He would probably have an impact very quickly here at IU in his sophomore year (after Patterson graduates) or possibly even as a true freshman.
Indiana is in very good position to land Gainer, although it could face a late surge from some of the bigger name programs (i.e. Michigan) trying to add depth. If the coaching staff keeps his recruiting at a high level, it should earn a commitment from a very promising player.
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