Buck Ringgold: Fresh off a state title, small-school football standout Jace Gilbert now has big dreams with Power 5 signing

By Buck Ringgold | Photo by Karen Schwartz

Just days after helping Marlow earn a state football championship, Jace Gilbert really started to gain attention.

One of the top kicking prospects in the nation, Gilbert received a preferred walk-on offer from Oklahoma. Other schools started making inquiries.

But the perception that Gilbert's stock really received a boost in the aftermath of the Outlaws' run to a 15-0 season and the program's first state title since 1964 wasn't necessarily the case.

And in fact, one of the schools that reached out to Gilbert long before he helped lead the Outlaws to a state title - playing quarterback as well as serving as both the team's kicker and punter - ended up landing him. Wednesday, on National Signing Day, Gilbert inked with Iowa State.

"During the fall, the two schools that kept in contact with me the most were Iowa State and Oklahoma State," Gilbert said. "I was able to take game day visits to both of those schools, which was neat to see the atmosphere at different places."

But Gilbert wasn't ready to decide just yet. He had more important things on his mind.

"Honestly, I focused all of my energy during the fall on my high school team and making a run at the state championship," Gilbert said.

Which Gilbert and his Outlaw teammates were able to do, beating an undefeated Washington team, 17-13, on Dec. 11 for the 2A title. Gilbert had a big hand in the win, rushing for the team's first touchdown and passing for the other. He also kicked a 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

But regardless of whether Marlow had won or lost that night in Edmond, it wasn't going to keep Gilbert from receiving attention from colleges.

"I don’t know if the state title game really had an effect on me getting offered; I was honestly in contact with the same schools before the game as I was after the game," Gilbert said.

Days after the title win, Oklahoma reached out to Gilbert, seeing if he wanted to come kick for the Sooners as a preferred walk-on.

"To be honest, OU recruited me the last of any schools I was in contact with," he said.

Then in January, Abilene Christian offered a scholarship.

But Iowa State had zeroed in on Gilbert since last summer, which gave the Cyclones - no pun intended - a leg up on him when it came to eventually landing the Marlow standout.

"Iowa State was the first school I visited on June 1," Gilbert said. "I felt like I kicked very well there, and I stayed in contact with them since June and have developed a great relationship.

"I also developed a great relationship with their special teams analyst, Coach (Rob) Grande."

And when Gilbert finally made his choice official, he went with the team that had shown the most interest in him from the beginning.

"I chose Iowa State because I really liked the culture around the program and the coaching staff," Gilbert said. "I’ve visited several times, and it really feels like a family atmosphere in Ames, and I really like the town also.

"It seems like every school talks about a family atmosphere, but at Iowa State, it just feels different."

While Gilbert finally made it official on Wednesday, he wasn't the only Outlaw to sign. That was something else he took a great deal of pride in, having several of his teammates get the same opportunity to showcase their talents at the next level.

"The really cool part about winning the state championship game was that we had a lot of great players on our team and a several of them have signed," Gilbert said. "Will Bergner and Kyle Wilson are going to play together at (Northeastern State University), and our running back, Julian Marroquin, is going to play at East Central."

And Gilbert is going for another gold ball, this time in a different sport.

He's part of the Outlaw basketball team which is 14-2 on the season and is ranked in the top five in Class 3A. He also plays baseball.

"My plans for the rest of the year are to hopefully make a run in basketball and baseball," Gilbert said. "The same group of guys that I played with in football, I also play basketball and baseball with.

"I think we have a good chance in both of those sports."

Being able to play other sports was another advantage for Gilbert when it came to getting attention from schools, particularly those in the Power Five.

"Every college coach I have talked to has loved the fact that I’m a multi-sport guy and has encouraged me to continue playing every high school sport until I graduate," Gilbert said.

Then it's off to Iowa State, where he'll report in early June.

For the time being, though, Gilbert is wanting to experience the thrill of winning state again as a Marlow Outlaw, just the way he felt in December.

"It’s an amazing feeling to be state champs," he said. "I was fortunate to be a part of such a great group of guys, and ultimately our 22 seniors.

"Those guys were awesome to play with, and I’m glad we got to go out with the title."