River Hill lineman Danny Gibbs has a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders this season as the only starter returning to the offensive line of the No. 7 Hawks a year after they advanced to the state Class 3A semifinals. A 6-foot, 240-pound offensive tackle and defensive end, Gibbs worked with a personal trainer over the summer to be in the best shape he could for his senior year with the Hawks (4-1).
Gibbs, a straight-A student, is also involved with the Future Business Leaders of America, the Student Government Association and the Young Democrats of River Hill. He is considering a career in business or law.
Question: How did you start playing football?
Answer: I always loved watching football, but my mom was always hesitant about me playing football. I want to say it was third grade and it was a soccer game, and there was a point in the game where the ball was between me and another guy and we ran for the ball. I knocked the guy over, got the ball and I got a penalty for it. I think at that point, my dad decided it was time for me to play football.
Q: Was there a point when you thought, "I'm pretty good at this?"
A: My first few years, I was horrible. Not until seventh or eight grade did I start to feel like I was decent at it.
Q: Why did you stick with it if you were horrible?
A: It was actually tough. I really don't like to quit anything. You should keep trying at it.
Q: Do you have a preference between offense and defense?
A: Offense. This is my first year ever starting on defense, but I've just always been more offensively minded.
Q: Isn't the offensive line kind of where guys go to disappear publicitywise?
A: Definitely (laughs). I'm not necessarily one who likes the spotlight. I'm fine with just stepping back, letting the backs get all the press or whatever.
Q: Are most of the linemen seniors?
A: Actually this year's a little different. We only have two seniors on our starting offensive line, and the rest are juniors. On the defensive line, we have two seniors and a junior. We're a pretty new and inexperienced line this year, but we're definitely starting to pick it up.
Q: How do you develop that cohesion you need on the offensive line?
A: I feel like practice itself brings that whole idea of camaraderie together. We're always working in the offseason. Huntingtown, we lost in late November (in state semifinals). We got Saturday, Sunday (off) and then we were back in the weight room Monday and we worked every single week. You're with the guys all the time and naturally that type of bond just kind of builds. The second you step on the field, it's built to another level.
Q: You have a 4.0 unweighted average, so have you ever gotten a B?
A: In high school, as far as quarters, I got my first B last year. I got an 87 in English. I wasn't too happy.
Q: What drives you to be such a good student?
A: I'm pretty competitive when it comes to most things, and academically that doesn't change. I just want to be the best I can be and compete with everyone else.
Q: What are your college plans?
A: I don't know yet. I kind of like the idea of a big school, the University of Michigan, or a North Carolina. I'm a big fan of that idea. Everyone gets to go to the football game and the academics are still incredibly strong. And then I also have the other route. If I want to play football, I could play at a small liberal arts college. Maybe like a Tufts or Middlebury or something like that.
Q: What do you do in the Young Democrats club?
A: It's kind of new, so we're still trying to figure out what we're doing, but as of lately, we're helping out with people's campaigns. We helped with (Howard County Executive) Ken Ulman's campaign and Jon Weinstein's (campaign for state delegate).
Q: Why are you interested in politics?
A: It's definitely important. You have to at least put some sort of interest into your government because that's what everything's based on — what's going on in the government. You should know what's going on.
Q: How do you get more teenagers to be involved?
A: I think it has to be done through the education system, the government classes and everything. If that doesn't get it done, it's kind of difficult to do it after that. Even with that club, the motive could be as materialistic as "I want to put this on my resume," so they show up to the meeting and then maybe they decide it's kind of interesting.
Q: How do you juggle all of this? It's a full load plus classes.
A: It's difficult at times, but for the most part it's manageable. You've got to go home, you have to stay focused, stay organized. During football season, I'm not playing video games too often or watching TV. I try to stay off Facebook (laughs).
katherine.dunn@baltsun.com