Army 2023 Recruiting Class: Connected & Committed - Gemma, Evans & Gardner
It was back on May 15th that the Rivals Camp Series was held in Philadelphia and as noted by Rivals.com's National Recruiting Analyst Adam Friedman, there were several participants who raised their recruiting stock.
• Prospects that are now on the Radar (5/19/22)
The irony is that two of ten (10) who made their presence felt that day, is that two are part of Army’s 2023 recruiting.
Rivals 3-star DT Matt Gemma was the first prospect to commit to the Black Knights and despite his stock rising, his pledge to Army West Point is cemented in stone.
So, did you two go head to head during the OL vs. DL segment of the camp and secondly, did you know at that tie he was an Army commit?
“I didn’t get a chance to go against him but I did know that he was committed to Army,” said Evans in his conversation with GBK back in June. “I met him before the Rivals Camp on my first visit to Army West Point.”
Then on June 29th GBK reported on “The 2023 Recruiting & The Irony” of Army's then most recent commitment ...
... “I just started looking into the 2023 class and from what I know so far this is going to be a very good class with still to come,” declared Cole Evans back on June 29th, when he discussed his recent up close and personal encounter with one of his incoming teammates (Matt Gemma).
That was then and here we are now in the latter part of August, which brings us to another piece of the commitment trifecta. That 3rd piece is defensive end Eric Gardner, who recently committed to Army, who also participated in the aforementioned Rivals Camp and the 3-star player is a high school teammate of Evans.
“Me and big Cole get after it at practice every day,” acknowledged Gardner regarding his daily battles with Evans during their practices at Archbishop Wood High School.
“Yeah, he (Gardner) let me know the moment he made his decision,” said an excited Evans. “He’s my teammate and I’m hyped he coming with me.”
All three committed players chimed in on their paths crossing and bonding.
“Yeah Matt’s my guy,” declared Gardner. “On Junior Day (Army’s) he was telling me he already committed and West Point was the move."
Yeah we were all talking it up at the Junior Day.”
“That’s one of my boys,” confirmed Gemma, making reference to fellow Rivals 3-star commit, Gardner. “Been to tons of camps with him … like the Rivals Camp and Under Armour All-American Camp.”
So did Gemma have any chatter with Gardner at the Rivals Camp back in June?
“Not at the time,” Gemma stated. “I ended up seeing him at a Junior Day where we talked and he found out I was committed {laughing}.”
“I ended up walking past a group of kids at the Junior Day and he (Gardner) said are you are the kid from the Rivals Camp and we ended up talking. I can’t quite recall the conversation, but he was surprised I was committed and he congratulated me.”
And now Gemma, Gardner, and Cole will be wearing the Black & Gold of the Black Knights of Army West Point.
“Goes to show a lot of talent is choosing Army,” bellowed Gemma.
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