Troy Gatling provides Braden River a deep threat

BRADEN RIVER — Pulling on his helmet, Troy Gatling trots out onto the field and steps up to the line of scrimmage.

The Braden River senior wide receiver looks over to the sideline and then focuses his attention downfield. He quickly breaks off the line and races downfield, running right before breaking for the end zone.

Gatling turns and looks back with his hands stretched out anticipating where the ball will land.

Within a matter of moments, Gatling trots back to the line of scrimmage and repeats the process all over again — this time choosing another route.

Gatling replayed the same scenario over and over again every day throughout the summer, choosing to stay and work out well after all of his teammates had left for the day.

“I worked out when no one else was,” Gatling said. “I stayed and ran routes, worked on my stance and getting off the line and going at it. Every day after workouts, I focused on getting my footwork better, and it shows.”

Gatling made the decision in the offseason to do everything he could to become a better wide receiver. And although he wasn’t required to stay after practice, the Pirates’ deep threat knew if he wanted to be the best, then he needed to prepare to the best of his ability.

“I wanted to be the best at what I do,” Gatling said. “I didn’t want to be second to anybody. Repetition — that’s how you get better. You don’t get better by sitting there thinking about it. You get better by doing it.”

Gatling’s hard work over the summer appears to be paying off. Gatling already has four catches for 81 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown reception against rival Lakewood Ranch Sept. 2.

“As a player, he has spent more time being a good route runner,” coach Don Purvis said. “We expect him to continue to stretch the defense and give us a deep threat.”

Gatling began playing football for the Sarasota Redskins when he was 8 years old after his mother, Sonja Smith, decided her son needed a way to burn off some of his energy.

Gatling started out playing quarterback, but over time, his coaches decided it was time to move the speedster to wide receiver. The transition, however, didn’t go quite as smoothly as everyone had hoped.

“I couldn’t really catch,” Gatling said with a laugh.

As a result, Gatling moved to running back. From the backfield, Gatling started learning how to catch, and before long, he was back playing wide receiver for the Manatee Mustangs.

“Then, it just stuck,” Gatling said.

Since then, Gatling has adapted to the position and is constantly looking for ways to use his height (6-foot-1) and speed to his advantage.

“It’s (all about) knowing your opponent’s weaknesses and figuring out how to manipulate them using their weaknesses to your advantage,” Gatling said. “I just like making people look bad and letting them know it was me who did it. Honestly, that’s what I love about the position.”

Gatling saw limited action as a backup for the Pirates last season. But after his rigorous offseason, Gatling worked his way into the starting lineup.

“It feels good to start my senior year,” Gatling said. “All I basically want to do is be the best receiver around. I want to be known as (one of) the best wide receivers for the 2011-12 football season. I want to be remembered. Everything else basically falls along the lines of that.”

And if he’s lucky enough, Gatling has aspirations of playing at the next level, following in the footsteps of his idol — Patriots’ wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

“I want to be like me, but I idolize Chad (Ochocinco),” Gatling said. “I look at him — his footwork and his work ethic — he gets after it all day every day.”

“He’s definitely capable,” Purvis said of Gatling. “He needs to remain dedicated to the weight room. He has to get bigger in order to handle the size and speed of the college game.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].