Meet Kaplan’s ‘Utility Guy’

KAPLAN - Kaplan junior Gabriel Clement’s nickname could very well be “slash” and not just because he plays running back/wide receiver for the Pirates.
According to first-year head coach Cory Brodie, it’s very likely because he’s such a versatile weapon in the Kaplan offensive arsenal for the 2021 season.
“Gabriel is going to play running back, and he’s going to play receiver. Plus, he’s going to line up in the slot. Gabriel is going to be our utility guy,” Brodie said. “He’s our lightning in a bottle, and we’re going to try to put him in different positions for him to succeed.
“He’s our guy where people are going to have to recognize where he’s at on the field, which is going to open up for other people. He’s our speedster.”
That is high praise for someone who stands only 5-foot-8 and 143 pounds but ran a 4.6-second, 40-yard dash last year.
“We haven’t been timed in a 40 yet this year,” Clement said. “But I’m pretty sure I am still fast.”
A team guy through and through, Clement said it doesn’t matter what position he plays of the two he’s listed at. He wants to help the team no matter where he plays.
“As long as the team wins, I don’t care what I do during a game,” Clement said.
As a running back, Clement said that he usually relies on his blockers because, as he puts it, “I’m not a big dude.”
But when there is blocking a hole to run though, “I’m outta there!” he said.
As a receiver, he’s a little more vocal about what he can do.
“It’s not too hard running routes on people because they give me good looks,” he said.
Clement’s favorite route is a go-route or a post or corner route.
“I can usually run past the defender, and the quarterbacks can get me the ball,” he said. “I can either wait for the ball to get to me or run down the field and catch it if it’s thrown deep.”
Adjusting to the new coaching staff at Kaplan wasn’t hard either.
“I heard some stuff about Coach Brodie from my VC (Vermilion Catholic) friends,” he said. “So I knew that we were going to get some passes this year, and I was happy about it.
But when he came in, we weren’t expecting this many routes to learn, but we learned it. So we are all confident now and going with the flow.”
Clement said that spring and summer have been challenging because the coaches have been running the team to make sure they are in shape but that at the same time it’s been fun learning the new offense and seeing how it will work this fall.
The track sprinter (he runs the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters) is looking forward to the fall football season.
“I want to show the other teams how we play at Kaplan,” Clement said. “Right now, we’re the underdogs, and I do not like that at all.
“They are going to see us. Trust me, and they are going to see us. So let everyone think that we are bad. We’re going to show them.”