Windsor standout Stare commits to D2 school (Video)

A graduate of Holy Names catholic high school in Windsor, as well as a veteran of The Atlanta Sports Academy football program from the past season, talented defensive back Gasper Stare has announced that he will be playing for the Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) Cardinals.

“I went to visit Saginaw, and just loved it,” Stare said. “The atmosphere, the seriousness of the game, the speed, the love from faculty and students towards the team. They even broke ground on a new 25 million dollar indoor football facility being built right now.”

Stare is looking to follow in the footsteps of other SVSU football players that have come before him and now play in the NFL, such as Jeff Heath.

“Their starting safety Jeff Heath signed and is now with The Dallas Cowboys,” Stare pointed out. “I know I have a chance to make an impact for The Cardinals.”

Stare first made an impact on the Saginaw Valley recruiting staff when in his 5th year at Holy Names he played a high school game in the area and forced four fumbles, returning one of them for a touchdown. Following the game Stare’s high school coach put him in contact with Saginaw Valley.

“Coach McIntyre got Saginaw to contact me,” said Stare. “We talked on the phone back and forth and e-mailed constantly, and we slowly grew a relationship together.”

Stare began his football career in Windor, Ontario, playing for the Windsor Minor Football Association before playing for the Essex Ravens football program and then Holy Names Catholic high school.

“I decided to go to Holy Names Catholic High School because of there strong football program, Mr. Leraci and Coach Mcintyre where the main reasons for me going.”

Leraci and McIntyre are also scouts for the Edmonton Eskimos.

The first to admit that he struggled in his first to years at Holy Names, Stare says it was before his grade 11 season when the ‘light’ went on and he knew he had to train harder.

“I would work all summer on the hill and the weight room,” Stare stated. “I quit every sport I was participating in to fully focus on football. I came in grade 11, as the only two-way starter and became the only grade 11 to make all-city and got Rookie of the Year.”

Stare continued to excel in the coming seasons, playing for Team Ontario West during the summer and attending a number of football camps. Despite getting attention from multiple schools in Canada and the US, Stare was not satisfied and knew he could accomplish more.

“I had many schools call me, e-mail me, and what not after my grade 12 year,” he explained. “I wasn’t satisfied as it was either big time D1 schools only offering walk on spots, or low level d2 and D3 schools. I wanted more than that.”

It was then that Stare decided to spend some time playing in Atlanta in order to increase his reputation south of the border,

“”Windsor produces a lot of big time talent and we get over looked through out the States and Canada. Atlanta got me a lot of looks but I strongly felt the Canadian prejudice and also the fact that I was playing a skill position (safety),” Stare said.

Stare has also surrounded himself with a large group of talented football players and minds in order to keep himself on track and realize his football potential as a football player.

“I was training during the early off season with CFL champ Walter Spencer and current CFLers Chris Rwabukumba, Michael Carter, and Daryl Townsend who have given me some tips. The Essex Ravens coaches have really shown support in me. Tyler Scott graduated from my high school and also went to SVSU; he’s in the CFL now and has given me a lot of advice. Luke Wilson who is now with the Seattle Seahawks, is from my city and an old ravens teammate has given me a lot of advice and I really look up to him.”

Gasper has shown that he not only has the talent to be an extremely skilled football player, but he also has the work ethic and maturity to accomplish his goals.

“The big thing I have taken from my journey is that hard work, what you do alone when no ones watching, has the greatest rewards and out comes,” he said. “This isn’t a hobby anymore, I do this for a living now.”

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