Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Uncle Gabriel One of Team’s Veteran Players at Age 19
April 10, 2026 02:24 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. – Nate Gabriel reminded us earlier this week that college football can sometimes be unforgiving to young players.
West Virginia University's junior nose guard was forced into early service as a 17-year-old true freshman in 2024, going up against players five, six, and in some instances, seven years older than him.
Because football players wear helmets and body armor, we don't always get a complete picture of what's going on with the people inside of it. Imagine yourself at age 17 and think about how you would respond to any sort of strenuous physical activity against someone six-to-seven years older than you?
It could be helpful or traumatizing, depending upon how things turn out.
Fortunately for Gabriel, he came out of the experience relatively unscathed with the exception of a few good stories to tell.
"Wyatt Milum – everybody knows Wyatt Milum," he laughed. "During practice, I don't know why I was playing three-(technique), but I'm playing a three-tech, and I'm usually a nose guard. It was Wyatt and Tomas (Rimac) on the same side and those two took me for a ride 10-15 yards down the field!
"I really felt that, but I had to go through that so I could become tough," he added.
Milum, of course, is now playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Rimac is today considered one of the top offensive guards in the ACC playing for Virginia Tech.
All things considered, those nine tackles and a sack that Gabriel produced in 128 snaps two years ago as a 17-year-old look a whole lot better now when you consider what he was being asked to do.
"Most guys were like six-year guys," he recalled. "I'm like, 'Six-year guys?' I'm just coming out of high school and I'm having to play against these men! I was like, 'I've got to hold my own, some way, somehow,' and that's what I did.
"Being that young and being thrown into the fire, having that pressure on me made me more prepared for later years," he explained.
Now 19, Gabriel is actually one of the most experienced players on the team with 24 game's-worth of Big 12 playing experience. Some of his teammates have begun calling him "Unc" because of his veteran status in the locker room.
"Coming in about 2 ½ years ago, I never would have thought that now everybody (would be) calling me 'Unc' in the locker room even though I am only 19," Gabriel shrugged.
"I've kind of taken on the role. I'm not really mad at it. I've got to be the older guy, and I've got to be an example to these young guys, so I guess I'll be their 'Unc,'" he added.
The Auburndale, Florida, resident was recruited by Neal Brown's staff as one its mid-level prospects out of the Sunshine State. He was accorded three-star status by ESPN, 247Sports and On3, rated the 81st-best defensive lineman nationally and one of the top 200 players in the state.
Those credentials normally get you a redshirt and a year in the weight room to learn and grow, but at the time, WVU needed Gabriel and some of the other younger players to step up. Things went well for them against Albany, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Arizona and UCF, and not so well versus Penn State, Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
"Playing as a true freshman, I feel my weakest point was learning the playbook," Gabriel pointed out. "I was a freshman at the time and didn't know better, but now I'm definitely getting to learn the playbook better. Being a freshman and playing, I really felt that pressure. I had my 'welcome to college moments,' but everybody has that.
"I felt my freshman year could have been better, but I felt what I did was decent," he added.
Gabriel is one of just 34 players returning from last year's squad, and now one of fewer than 20 remaining from the Neal Brown era.
Today, he's being looked upon to provide a veteran presence in the locker room and he's yet to celebrate his 20th birthday, which means he's got one year to go before he's legally served!
That's where some programs are right now in college football's transfer portal era.
"I want to be a visual example to the guys. I'm not really vocal, but I'll talk to the guys on the side. I want guys to see what I do and follow my lead," Gabriel explained.
And his advice to the inexperienced players on the squad?
Memorize strength and conditioning coach Mike Joseph's cell phone number and live in the weight room.
"One thing you have to do is love the weight room," he observed. "I would say me compared from my freshman year to now, you have to get big. As a defensive lineman, you have to be strong, and you have to be big or else it's not going to work out for you."
Now a rock-solid 295 pounds, Gabriel is in a much better place physically to take on those much older players today than he was two years ago.
Just imagine what type of player he's going to become when old "Unc" finally hits his 20s!
"I'm getting there, I guess," he chuckled.
West Virginia resumes on-field work next Monday leading into next Saturday's Gold-Blue Spring Festival.
West Virginia University's junior nose guard was forced into early service as a 17-year-old true freshman in 2024, going up against players five, six, and in some instances, seven years older than him.
Because football players wear helmets and body armor, we don't always get a complete picture of what's going on with the people inside of it. Imagine yourself at age 17 and think about how you would respond to any sort of strenuous physical activity against someone six-to-seven years older than you?
It could be helpful or traumatizing, depending upon how things turn out.
Fortunately for Gabriel, he came out of the experience relatively unscathed with the exception of a few good stories to tell.
"Wyatt Milum – everybody knows Wyatt Milum," he laughed. "During practice, I don't know why I was playing three-(technique), but I'm playing a three-tech, and I'm usually a nose guard. It was Wyatt and Tomas (Rimac) on the same side and those two took me for a ride 10-15 yards down the field!
"I really felt that, but I had to go through that so I could become tough," he added.
Milum, of course, is now playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Rimac is today considered one of the top offensive guards in the ACC playing for Virginia Tech.
All things considered, those nine tackles and a sack that Gabriel produced in 128 snaps two years ago as a 17-year-old look a whole lot better now when you consider what he was being asked to do.
"Most guys were like six-year guys," he recalled. "I'm like, 'Six-year guys?' I'm just coming out of high school and I'm having to play against these men! I was like, 'I've got to hold my own, some way, somehow,' and that's what I did.
"Being that young and being thrown into the fire, having that pressure on me made me more prepared for later years," he explained.
Now 19, Gabriel is actually one of the most experienced players on the team with 24 game's-worth of Big 12 playing experience. Some of his teammates have begun calling him "Unc" because of his veteran status in the locker room.
"Coming in about 2 ½ years ago, I never would have thought that now everybody (would be) calling me 'Unc' in the locker room even though I am only 19," Gabriel shrugged.
"I've kind of taken on the role. I'm not really mad at it. I've got to be the older guy, and I've got to be an example to these young guys, so I guess I'll be their 'Unc,'" he added.
The Auburndale, Florida, resident was recruited by Neal Brown's staff as one its mid-level prospects out of the Sunshine State. He was accorded three-star status by ESPN, 247Sports and On3, rated the 81st-best defensive lineman nationally and one of the top 200 players in the state.Those credentials normally get you a redshirt and a year in the weight room to learn and grow, but at the time, WVU needed Gabriel and some of the other younger players to step up. Things went well for them against Albany, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Arizona and UCF, and not so well versus Penn State, Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech.
"Playing as a true freshman, I feel my weakest point was learning the playbook," Gabriel pointed out. "I was a freshman at the time and didn't know better, but now I'm definitely getting to learn the playbook better. Being a freshman and playing, I really felt that pressure. I had my 'welcome to college moments,' but everybody has that.
"I felt my freshman year could have been better, but I felt what I did was decent," he added.
Gabriel is one of just 34 players returning from last year's squad, and now one of fewer than 20 remaining from the Neal Brown era.
Today, he's being looked upon to provide a veteran presence in the locker room and he's yet to celebrate his 20th birthday, which means he's got one year to go before he's legally served!
That's where some programs are right now in college football's transfer portal era.
"I want to be a visual example to the guys. I'm not really vocal, but I'll talk to the guys on the side. I want guys to see what I do and follow my lead," Gabriel explained.
And his advice to the inexperienced players on the squad?
Memorize strength and conditioning coach Mike Joseph's cell phone number and live in the weight room.
"One thing you have to do is love the weight room," he observed. "I would say me compared from my freshman year to now, you have to get big. As a defensive lineman, you have to be strong, and you have to be big or else it's not going to work out for you."
Now a rock-solid 295 pounds, Gabriel is in a much better place physically to take on those much older players today than he was two years ago.
Just imagine what type of player he's going to become when old "Unc" finally hits his 20s!
"I'm getting there, I guess," he chuckled.
West Virginia resumes on-field work next Monday leading into next Saturday's Gold-Blue Spring Festival.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ FootballNate Gabriel | April 8
Wednesday, April 08
Coach Rod West | April 8
Wednesday, April 08
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 8
Wednesday, April 08
Ryan Ward | April 6
Monday, April 06
