Prospect Spotlight: Tanner Gangl – Spectrum (2023)

Brian Jerzak May 21, 2021 @ 06:49 PM

It was a transition year for the Spectrum Sting football program. The program is making an offensive transition that was a little more drastic than moving from three wide to spread. It was a complete makeover. In the middle of that change was sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="119578" first="Tanner" last="Gangl"]. His progression will be one of the primary keys to the program’s future. "It was a good season overall," Gangl said. "We had two games where we were one touchdown away and were winnable. We took another step with our offense moving from a pass twice a game offense to a passing offense." The offensive change was gradual but ramped up in 2020. "I started throwing it on JV more. I started on varsity my freshman year, and we stuck to the run but passed a little bit more. This year we started throwing it a lot more and are continuing in that direction." "(The transition) was a challenge, but our coaches kept a lot of the offensive schemes with the running game and transitioned it to the passing game. We kept a lot of our formations – when we ran the ball – we stayed in shotgun. Everyone came together – it has been a learning experience for all of us." With the dramatic scheme change, the Sting were able to finish 2-3 in their abbreviated COVID season. "On defense, our pass defense was one of the best in AAA," Gangl said. "We had one game where a team threw the ball twenty times and gained 40 yards. On offense, when we are passing, we are scoring, and things run smoothly. When we started running off that, we came together in the second half of the season." The team took necessary steps building toward the future, and so did their young quarterback. "I am happy with the steps I took this year," the two-year, two-way starter said. "As a freshman, I had a hundred yards passing, and I passed that up in the first game this year. The last game – against Pine City – I took another big step with 240 yards passing and three touchdowns." Gangl’s ability to throw under pressure is easy to see on tape. "I feel like I am good at escaping the pocket," the All-Section team member said. "Being under pressure has never been a problem for me. Reading coverages is something I am good at too, and I am going to work on that this offseason." Not only an essential part of the offense, but Gangl also plays a vital role on the defensive side of the ball. "I play the weak side safety. I like watching film, so I know what (offenses) are going to do before the play. To know what is coming gives me that extra step to get to where I need to be. The mental game is where I feel I excel." Gangl – who comes in at 5’11" 185 pounds – is a three-sport athlete. "I play basketball and run track. In basketball, I am a power forward and specialize in defense. In track, I am a sprinter, and I throw the discus." Before the football season starts, Gangl wants to focus on the mental part of the game. "Reading the box to set up my running backs better is something I am working on." Although it is track season, Gangl gets in plenty of time with his receivers and will dive even more into improving his quarterback play this summer. "We throw before track practice every day. This summer, I am going to go to a lot of camps and will be running captains’ practices." With more camps to come, for now, the sophomore expects to go to the North Dakota State camp and the Minnesota camp. The offseason no-doubt will continue to help him transition into a passing quarterback – and by the time he is a senior, maybe one of the best in the state.