John Heller, Post-Gazette Mike Barlak : Gateway's versatile linebacker is a Division 1 prospect. Click photo for larger image.

Mike Barlak once thought baseball would be his ticket to college, that is until he grew some and fell in love with football.

Even though he isn't playing baseball any more, he still has become known as Gateway's utility player.

Need a tight end? Barlak is the answer.

A tackle? Barlak is the man.

How about a tailback?

"We had a scrimmage against Bethel Park and we held some of our top players out because the weather was bad," Gateway coach Terry Smith said. "We didn't have any tailbacks, so I played Mike at that position and he ended up rushing for like 150 yards or something. He's just an amazing kid because he can literally play every position on the field for us. And I mean every one of them. He's a valuable guy to have around, that's why I call him our utility player."

Barlak (6 feet 2, 212 pounds) may play countless positions on offense, but on defense he is a one-position man. And it is on defense -- at middle linebacker -- that Barlak will play when he gets to college.

Last season, he led the Gators with 95 tackles and eight sacks, and he also had two interceptions. He did all that despite a knee injury and wasn't 100 percent healthy the entire season.

The knee injury was also a reason he hasn't received as much attention from college scouts as he probably should have.

"A lot of them question my speed," Barlak said. "There are a number of schools in the Big East that are looking at me but want to see film of my first three games before they decide to offer because they want to see if I can run. The thing is, I had surgery, a bone graft, in February and my knee feels great. I've worked since then and my 40 time has dropped back down, so I know I'll be in good shape on that front."

Smith, who believes Barlak will have a number of Division I offers before the end of the season, said there is at least one play he'll add to Barlak's highlight tape that should answer a lot of those questions.

"In that scrimmage, when he was playing tailback, he had a 70-yard touchdown run and he was separating from defensive backs," Smith said. "That's going to be the first play they see on his tape. That should put a lot of that to rest. He is a great player, a great linebacker. He just has a nose for the ball. I mean, he played about 20 plays in that scrimmage and had 12 tackles.

"I have no doubt that he'll get a college scholarship because he is the complete package when it comes to linebackers."

Given Barlak's talents, if linebacker doesn't work out, perhaps he has a future at tackle, or tight end, or tailback ...

"No, its definitely defense all the way," Barlak said. "I like playing offense but I love defense. All you think about is getting to the ball and making a hit, and that's good enough for me."

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Southwest Conference data

TEAM TO BEAT
Gateway -- The strength of this team will be defense, where nine starters return from last year's team that made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals. Linebacker Mike Barlak (6-2, 212) was the team's leading tackler a year ago, and Justin King (6-0, 185) is ranked by some scouting services as the best defensive back in the country. Junior Aaron Smith (6-0, 178), King's cousin, moves from receiver to quarterback. Senior Matt Houy (6-2, 272) is a talented lineman. The Gators have a tough non-conference schedule with Central Catholic and Woodland Hills in the first two weeks.

CONTENDERS
McKeesport -- Look for junior Travis McBride (6-1, 185) to become one of the WPIAL's best running backs. Lineman Lawrence Green (6-4, 300) has a few Division I college offers. A big question is who will win the quarterback job and run the Tigers' triple option offense?

Kiski Area -- This team isn't in the class of Gateway or McKeesport, but the Cavaliers should be in the upper half of the conference. Senior Jason Calorio (6-3, 275) is one of the conference's top linemen.

OTHERS
Plum -- The Plum school board opened coach Bill Rometo's job in the offseason, but he eventually got it back. His son, Gino, a 6-2, 195-pound junior, will be the quarterback.

Trinity -- Junior running backs Ben Jennings (5-8, 170) and Anderson Hutchinson (5-9, 165) could make the Hillers playoff contenders.

Latrobe -- Ryan Flynn, a four-year starter at quarterback, has graduated, so the Wildcats will become a run-oriented team.

Fox Chapel -- With only seven seniors on the roster, the Foxes are hoping to be competitive.

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mike Barlak, Sr., Gateway, LB, 6-2, 212; Lawrence Green, Sr., McKeesport, OL/DL, 6-4, 300; Matt Kachruik, Sr., Plum, OL/DL, 5-11, 235; Travis McBride, Sr., McKeesport, RB/DB, 6-1, 185; Justin King, Sr., Gateway, RB/DB, 6-0, 185.

GAME OF THE YEAR
McKeesport at Gateway, Oct. 22.

-- By Mike White