(This article was written and released by WPIAL Today The original article can be found by clicking here.)
Ben Gottschalk
Class: 2026
Position: OT
School: Canon-McMillan
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 235 Lbs
GPA: 4.0
Class of 2026 WPIAL Today Ranking: #48
Twitter: @bengottschalkcm
MaxPreps Profile: https://www.maxpreps.com/pa/canonsburg/canon-mcmillan-big-macs/athletes/ben-gottschalk/?careerid=rvh8echlgur55
Combine Numbers
Max Bench: 215 Lbs
Max Squat: 305 Lbs
Max Deadlift: N/A
2022 Varsity/JV/Freshman Stats
• Started 8 of 8 Freshman Games at LT
• Started 6 of 8 JV games at LT
• Appeared in 2 Varsity games
Player Breakdown
In youth football they used to mark the kids over the skill weight limit with a single sticker on the helmet, Bens dad always jokes that they used to put 2 stickers on Bens helmet. Over the last few years his height continued to skyrocket but his body leaned out tremendously. At just 15 y/o Ben already measures 6’3 on his official physical, and over 235 lbs. This past season as a freshman, Ben started nearly all games at both the JV and Freshmen level. CM doesn’t dress the whole roster on Friday Nights, but He was the only freshman lineman on the team to dress and appear in any varsity games. He also ran practice scout team against division 1 and 2 recruited teammates weekly. Ben also received many spot reps at D-line during the JV games but his natural position is OT. Canon Mac plays in class 6A in the “Big 56” conference and competes against top schools each week. As a freshman, Ben quickly adapted to playing older and upper class lineman at Saturday JV Games. Ben’s main goal is to help the team to be successful, and to see significant playing time on Friday nights or earn a starting spot this coming season. He has continued to bulk up his frame with a 6-day a week offseason schedule that includes 4 days of lifting and 2 days of strength, agility and flexibility training at Frye Performance Training. Ben credits his huge strides freshman year to working with Chris Frye and having a head coach in Mike Evans who was an accomplished offensive lineman and personally works with developing lineman. He also mentions his middle school coach Eric McMahon for locking him into the LT role in 8th grade, where he played every offensive snap that year. Bens favorite moment this past season was watching from the sideline as the Big Macs upset 5A Powerhouse Upper St. Clair in week 7 with a last second TD. Ben said, “just being a part of the prep all week and being on that sideline, it was probably the coolest moment of my freshman season”. He also went on to tell me “varsity game action was great too, but that USC win meant everything for our program, my teammates and our coaches”. Ben hopes to become a leader for the Big Macs over the next 3 seasons and eventually follow in the footsteps of recent CM seniors who are going on to play at the college level. He’s got a frame that over the years could easily add a ton of weight pushing him to elite prospect measurements. I fully expect Ben to have a much larger role this upcoming season. Ben made it known to me that he is working extremely hard every single day while also preparing his body for the season. He is also mentally preparing by watching film of the elite lineman and also of himself trying to constantly evolve and improve his game. Ben takes football very serious and he is doing what it takes in the off-season to become a starting varsity football player.
Get to know Ben!
How old are you? 15
When did you start playing football? 7 years old
Favorite Teammate ever? Tj Sabatucci.
Favorite Coach Ever? Coach Eric McMahon
Favorite thing about football? Competition and strategy
Most pancakes in game? Three
What NFL player would you say your game resembles the most? Trent Williams
Goals for 2023? Individual: Start Varsity. Team: Win the WPIAL Championship
Favorite NFL player? Cam Heyward
Top 5 greatest NFL players of all-time? Tom Brady, Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice, and Randy Miss
Favorite MLB Team? Pirates
Favorite NFL Team? Steelers
Favorite Music? Rock and Hip Hop
Top 3 hype songs? Thunder Struck, From whom the bell rolls, and Enter Sandman
Favorite TV Show? Indy Car Racing
Favorite Movie? Step Brothers
Favorite Food? Steak
Favorite Drink? Blue Powerade
Favorite hobby outside of Football? 4×4 Off Roading
Career Goals? Sports Management
Final Take
Ben Gottschalk is one of the best lineman in his 2026 WPIAL class. I feel as if him not being forced into the starting lineup as a freshman will benefit him just as much if not more than starting varsity all season. He was able learn and begin to understand varsity level football while competing against high level 6A athletes in practice day in and day out. After a full year of learning from some of the best lineman in the WPIAL I fully expect Ben’s play on the field to take a giant leap this fall. Ben is one of the better lineman in the entire WPIAL’s class of 2026 and that is a statement I have no problem standing on.
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