Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Quiet Gabriel Looking to Become More of a Talker
August 10, 2026 04:33 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Nate Gabriel admits he's not a talker by nature, but there are signs that he's starting to come out of his shell a little bit.
Before this afternoon's news conference began inside the Milan Puskar Center team room, he got things started by asking everyone in the room how they were doing.
Baby steps, for sure, but it's a sign that he's making progress. Regardless, Gabriel will never be mistaken as the team's loudmouth.
"I definitely have to step out of my comfort zone to do something like that because we do have vocal leaders, but we need more," he admitted.
And one of them must be West Virginia's most experienced returning defensive lineman.
Gabriel, an Auburndale, Florida, resident, appeared in all 12 games last year and saw action on 321 total snaps, including a season-high 34 in the regular season finale against Texas Tech.
That's not really a lot, but the time has come for Gabriel to take on a much bigger role on the football team, which means he's one of the guys Rich Rodiguez wants talking more frequently.
When you think about that, the very nature of it is complimentary.
When was the last time a bad player was asked to say more to his teammates and take on more of a leadership role?
There are bigger expectations this year for the 6-foot-3, 294-pound junior, and it is now time for him to come into his own.
"Without a whole lot of seniors, and even last-year players if you want to call them that because everyone now has five years, the leadership has got to come from guys who have been here and played a little bit like Nate," Rodriguez explained.
"He's been fantastic on and off the field," the coach added. "I don't need leadership during practice because that's what the coaches get paid to do, but in the locker room and off the field when they're on their own, you need somebody who is mature who can lead them the right way, especially with all these new guys.
"How we do things is going be new and our program is run a certain way," the coach continued. "What I'm asking for the veterans is to help educate our guys that this is how practices are run and these are our expectations."
So far, Gabriel admits it's been a work in progress.
"Going in before summer, I was having talks with my coach and he was saying, 'Yeah, you're a good example leader but we need you to be more of a vocal leader.' That's what I'm working on," Gabriel said.
"Sometimes, it comes natural to me and some days I don't want to do it, but as a leader you have to get up and do it," he added.
There is no such thing as a part-time leader. Once you earn that distinction, it sticks with you when things are going well, and it really sticks with you when things are not going so well.
For better, and especially for worse.
Gabriel said he's trying to be more like senior safety Kamari Wilson, a Memphis transfer and a comfortable talker who is unafraid to speak up and say whatever is on his mind.
"He's really been the example of the vocal leaders we need right now," Gabriel admitted.
What West Viriginia's defense is seeking this year is more consistent production from its front four - something defensive coordinator Zac Alley touched on at the beginning of preseason camp.
This is how Gabriel interprets things, "He wants more physicality, of course, and he needs more pass rush and us just getting to the quarterback, and I can say that's what we need to work on."
Junior offensive guard Nick Krahe, one of the guys going up against Gabriel every day in practice, believes it's coming.
"Nate Gabriel has taken a big step," Krahe said. "I've been with Nate for three years now, and I've seen him progress every single year. He's going to be a great player, and we're going to need him up front.
Krahe says Gabriel's best attribute is his brute strength.
"He's a strong dude," he mentioned. "Right when he came in as a freshman, he was a strong dude, and he's gotten a lot stronger. He can hold the point, and I think that's big for him. Trying to figure out how to get around him as an offensive lineman is big."
Assistant coach William Green, the man in charge of Gabriel and the other defensive linemen, also sees it coming.
"The big thing for him is playing with the energy and the effort he does every single day," he said. "And just being a leader. We talk to him about that, not just in the room, but being one of the leaders on the team, because he's got the type of personality to do that."
The mantra the players have taken up is "whatever it takes," or something to that affect, minus a curse word or two.
"We just cut out all the outside noise," Gabriel explained. "We just work on what we need to work on."
"We're going to do whatever it takes to win," Green mentioned. "I'm pretty pleased that we're getting better."
Now three years into his college career, Nate Gabriel is already a true dinosaur in the game today – a two-year veteran at the same school. Gabriel simply shrugged when that was pointed out to him this afternoon.
"I'm the same man since high school, never transferred, and I'm going to be the same man in college," he said. "I'm just a loyal guy, I guess.
"I just like sticking with my guys," he concluded.
The Mountaineers wrapped up practice work this morning up on the Steve Antoline Family Practice Field ahead of the afternoon thunderstorm that hit the area.
The team is scheduled to be in full pads for Tuesday's practice. The remainder of the week calls for another full practice on Thursday and a closed scrimmage on Saturday morning. Eleven practices are on the schedule before the start of the fall semester on Tuesday, August 18.
Before this afternoon's news conference began inside the Milan Puskar Center team room, he got things started by asking everyone in the room how they were doing.
Baby steps, for sure, but it's a sign that he's making progress. Regardless, Gabriel will never be mistaken as the team's loudmouth.
"I definitely have to step out of my comfort zone to do something like that because we do have vocal leaders, but we need more," he admitted.
And one of them must be West Virginia's most experienced returning defensive lineman.
Gabriel, an Auburndale, Florida, resident, appeared in all 12 games last year and saw action on 321 total snaps, including a season-high 34 in the regular season finale against Texas Tech.
That's not really a lot, but the time has come for Gabriel to take on a much bigger role on the football team, which means he's one of the guys Rich Rodiguez wants talking more frequently.
When you think about that, the very nature of it is complimentary.
When was the last time a bad player was asked to say more to his teammates and take on more of a leadership role?
There are bigger expectations this year for the 6-foot-3, 294-pound junior, and it is now time for him to come into his own.
"Without a whole lot of seniors, and even last-year players if you want to call them that because everyone now has five years, the leadership has got to come from guys who have been here and played a little bit like Nate," Rodriguez explained.
"He's been fantastic on and off the field," the coach added. "I don't need leadership during practice because that's what the coaches get paid to do, but in the locker room and off the field when they're on their own, you need somebody who is mature who can lead them the right way, especially with all these new guys.
"How we do things is going be new and our program is run a certain way," the coach continued. "What I'm asking for the veterans is to help educate our guys that this is how practices are run and these are our expectations."
So far, Gabriel admits it's been a work in progress.
"Going in before summer, I was having talks with my coach and he was saying, 'Yeah, you're a good example leader but we need you to be more of a vocal leader.' That's what I'm working on," Gabriel said.
"Sometimes, it comes natural to me and some days I don't want to do it, but as a leader you have to get up and do it," he added.
There is no such thing as a part-time leader. Once you earn that distinction, it sticks with you when things are going well, and it really sticks with you when things are not going so well.
For better, and especially for worse.
Gabriel said he's trying to be more like senior safety Kamari Wilson, a Memphis transfer and a comfortable talker who is unafraid to speak up and say whatever is on his mind.
"He's really been the example of the vocal leaders we need right now," Gabriel admitted.
What West Viriginia's defense is seeking this year is more consistent production from its front four - something defensive coordinator Zac Alley touched on at the beginning of preseason camp.
This is how Gabriel interprets things, "He wants more physicality, of course, and he needs more pass rush and us just getting to the quarterback, and I can say that's what we need to work on."
Junior offensive guard Nick Krahe, one of the guys going up against Gabriel every day in practice, believes it's coming.
"Nate Gabriel has taken a big step," Krahe said. "I've been with Nate for three years now, and I've seen him progress every single year. He's going to be a great player, and we're going to need him up front.
Krahe says Gabriel's best attribute is his brute strength.
"He's a strong dude," he mentioned. "Right when he came in as a freshman, he was a strong dude, and he's gotten a lot stronger. He can hold the point, and I think that's big for him. Trying to figure out how to get around him as an offensive lineman is big."
Assistant coach William Green, the man in charge of Gabriel and the other defensive linemen, also sees it coming.
"The big thing for him is playing with the energy and the effort he does every single day," he said. "And just being a leader. We talk to him about that, not just in the room, but being one of the leaders on the team, because he's got the type of personality to do that."
The mantra the players have taken up is "whatever it takes," or something to that affect, minus a curse word or two.
"We just cut out all the outside noise," Gabriel explained. "We just work on what we need to work on."
"We're going to do whatever it takes to win," Green mentioned. "I'm pretty pleased that we're getting better."
Now three years into his college career, Nate Gabriel is already a true dinosaur in the game today – a two-year veteran at the same school. Gabriel simply shrugged when that was pointed out to him this afternoon.
"I'm the same man since high school, never transferred, and I'm going to be the same man in college," he said. "I'm just a loyal guy, I guess.
"I just like sticking with my guys," he concluded.
The Mountaineers wrapped up practice work this morning up on the Steve Antoline Family Practice Field ahead of the afternoon thunderstorm that hit the area.
The team is scheduled to be in full pads for Tuesday's practice. The remainder of the week calls for another full practice on Thursday and a closed scrimmage on Saturday morning. Eleven practices are on the schedule before the start of the fall semester on Tuesday, August 18.
Players Mentioned
Monday, August 10
Monday, August 10
Monday, August 10
Monday, August 10
