Recruiting Report: Zach Whaley (2018)

Brian Jerzak December 13, 2017 @ 05:45 AM

Playing nose guard in a 3-4 defense is one of the most thankless jobs on a football field. The role of most zero or one technique players is to free up your teammates so they can make plays. Most of the time, the player goes unnoticed by fans. One of the best nose tackles in the 2018 class – and someone who has not gone unnoticed - is Prior Lake's Zach Whaley. "Our defense was very good from the very first game all the way through to the last play of the year, but after the fourth game we were just 1-3 (losses to Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, and Minnetonka)," Whaley said. "We had a very intense team meeting and cleared the air and got on a role for our six-game winning streak." The key to the second half of the season – in addition to not having to play three of the 6A semi-finalists – was the defense. "Our defense set the tone every game, especially our run defense," Whaley said. "We typically made the other teams' offenses change their game plan. We forced a lot of three and outs which would set up our grind it out offense." One of the reasons for the Lakers' defensive success was the control of the line of scrimmage – right in Whaley's wheelhouse. "My role was pretty simple - plug it up, keep the lineman off our backers and make plays where I can." Playing the position he does, Whaley's body takes a constant beating. "Playing nose on a three-man front has to be one of the most challenging positions in football," the Lakers' big man told northstarfootballnews.com. "Just about every play you are double teamed. Definitely, my time spent in the weight room paid off." Every player is going to talk about some sort of getting bigger, faster, and stronger as a focus for the offseason. It is particularly true in Whaley's case. "I need to get bigger, stronger, and quicker. I went to some game day visits this fall, and I saw what I would be up against." Last season – in addition to size and speed, Whaley – who likes to hunt, fish and watch college football - put a focus on the mental side of the game. "My biggest improvement from last year was becoming a better student of the game," Whaley said. "Film study, getting a better understanding of what offenses are trying to do really helps me game plan. I give a ton of credit to Coach (Tom) Menke." Whaley has suitors at two levels of college football interested in his services. "Several FCS teams are in touch with me along with a couple of FBS teams, NFN's 53rd ranked senior said."I have been told by the coaches recruiting me to ‘trust the process.' I am impatiently waiting and praying that my dreams of playing DI football become a reality." The college coaches Whaley has talked to don't all just see him on the defensive side of the ball. "Nose guard was my job, anchor the defense. I really don't have a preference playing either side of the ball, but it came down to Prior Lake needed me on defense. The coaches recruiting me say I have the grit to play on the interior of either side of the ball." At a position that is largely overlooked by the average fan, Whaley made it impossible for opponents to overlook him and college recruiters have taken notice.