BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 24, 2019) -- Morgan State University redshirt sophomore Simeon Gatling went from barely seeing playing time at the University of North Carolina to ranking among the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) leaders in tackles.
Gatling, a defensive back from Greensboro, N.C., is a long way from home. But, not further than his junior college Iowa Western Community College.
The potential has always been there for Gatling. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Dudley High standout drew interest from several schools as one of North Carolina's top defensive backs. Gatling received offers from Army and Navy and also drew interest from Georgia, Florida State and LSU.
However, Gatling wanted to stay close to home thus choosing the University of North Carolina.
Gatling spent two years at the UNC before transferring to Iowa Western on the edge of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska.
He posted on twitter that he was looking to transfer and was contacted by a coach from Iowa Western.
"It seemed like a really good opportunity to get bigger schools looking at me," Gatling said of his decision to join the Reivers.
At Iowa Western, 14 hours away from Gatling's hometown of Greensboro, N.C., Gatling said it was challenging because his parents did not get to see him play.
However, the lack of moral and social support at Iowa Western helped make him mentally tough and mature.
"[Junior college] isn't easy," Gatling said. "Iowa Western gave me the aspect of mental toughness. I had to face my challenges by myself and it helped shaped me to be mentally tough as a person and a player. "
What made it easier for Gatling is that his teammates were in the same position as him. They were all pursuing an opportunity to play Division I football again.
Gatling said he struggled to get minutes early on as Reivers head coach Scott Strohmeier wanted to get everyone involved. But as the season went on, Gatling became a "main contributor on defense."
Gatling collected 40 tackles (22 solo tackles), 5.7 tackles for loss, with a sack and an interception during the 2018 season at Iowa Western.
His play on the field earned him a visit from former Morgan State head coach Ernest T. Jones and later a scholarship.
Gatling now went from 14 hours away from home to just five hours.
When he first arrived to East Cold Spring Lane, Gatling said he didn't face many challenges but added it was important to have good time management and to stay focused.
Now in his first season with the Bears, Gatling ranks third on the team in total tackles (47; T-11th in MEAC) and is averaging 6.7 tackles per game.
Although Morgan State did not have a spring game this year, Gatling remained focused on getting "bigger, stronger, and faster."
"All we had was the weight room, workouts and running," Gatling said.
"In practice, I just try to go 110 [percent] every play, because I've seen people get hurt and I've seen football taken away from them."
"I just try to play like every play is my last play," Gatling added.
As for personal goals, Gatling is focused on team's success and believes the personal achievements will come as the team wins more games.
Gatling hopes to win the rest of the games scheduled starting with the Florida A&M Rattlers on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Hughes Stadium.
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
