COCONUT CREEK – Starting from Boca Raton and continuing with Monarch, Gabriel Birnbaum is well-known for his on-field production in the trenches.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior defensive end/defensive tackle has been instrumental in his team’s 3-1 start, with wins over Cedar Grove (Ga.) (50-42 win in Week 1), Hallandale (52-0 in Week 3), and Piper (32-6 win in Week 4).
Here are Birnbaum’s statistics after four games played this fall season:
•24 total tackles
•14 tackles for loss
•6 sacks
•2 forced fumbles
Birnbaum spoke on how his experience has gone so far at Monarch.
“It has been very different than what it was like at Boca,” Birnbaum said. “I’ve had to do a lot of learning and basically had to start over to earn a captain spot and the respect of my teammates. I’ve also been playing just inside on the d-line, which is new because I used to play a lot of edge too. I’ve felt really good this season and feel a couple of huge games coming soon.”
One play has stood out in a big way. It came against Atlantic (Delray Beach) in Week 2, which resulted in a 33-32 home loss.
Watch Birnbaum’s big play below.
“Pre-play, I saw Number 7 (Jayden Parrish) come into the game,” Birnbaum stated in his breakdown of the highlighted play. “We game-planned that when he was in, it was for a run. I knew that because of the motion away from me. The play was coming to my side. I saw my guard pull and beat the tackles down block and then located 7’s hip and made the tackle for loss.”
Birnbaum’s Hudl film speaks for itself. It has been parlayed to 14 scholarship offers, which include the following:
•FIU
•Bethune-Cookman
•Stetson
•Butler
•Southern University
•Minot
•ACU
•Wheeling University
•Westminster College
•St. Anselem
•Allen
•Warner University (NAIA)
Birnbaum said will be announcing his college football decision before the end of this week.
Stay tuned for an update.
PHOTO CREDITS: Shot by 17 and Monarch High School
