IW QA with Randy Gyllin

IW: How did you make your decision to commit to Wisconsin?

Gyllin: Well, I had a tough decision between a few schools. Not such bigger schools, but I was looking at North Dakota State and Nebraska. Both have very great football programs, great (academics). Wisconsin overall has everything I wanted. The academic area is just outstanding, and the different parts of the education you can get, so many majors, minors and so forth. And it’s a great football tradition too. That’s two things that go together and makes me want to go to school there and play football for them.

IW: How many offers did you have when you committed?

Gyllin: I was offered by North Dakota State, but not by Nebraska. Along with Wisconsin, those were my top three schools. Those were really the only ones I was really narrowing it down to. But no, I did not get any other offers.

IW: When Jim Hueber came to watch you play a couple of weeks ago, were you expecting him to extend a scholarship offer?

Gyllin: I honestly did not think for a minute I was going to get a scholarship, at least a full ride. Maybe something partial, but I didn’t expect a full ride.

IW: What were you thinking when they offered you?

Gyllin: I was extremely excited, happy and really grateful. All the hard work paid off. I’m just really thankful for what happened.

IW: After you received the offer, what led to you making the final decision two weeks later?

Gyllin: I just graded the schools I liked. I put different categories for different schools, and gave them points. Madison just had more points than the other schools, overall, and it’s close to home. It’s a school I really like.

IW: Were you a Badger fan growing up?

Gyllin: Well I moved here in seventh grade from Round Lake Beach, Ill. and that’s where it really started for me.

IW: Were you a big fan of any college or pro teams growing up?

Gyllin: Well I like the Bears. Sorry. But I still like the Packers, and Wisconsin has always been one of my favorites because they’ve always had the big boys on the line, and I kind of followed them a little bit. Wisconsin has always been up there, one of my favorites.

IW: How would you describe your playing style, and the things you do well that separate you from other athletes?

Gyllin: I just think my overall hustle and my ability to get off the ball and drive block are my three main things right there. My feet are pretty decent, because I wrestle, and wrestling and football go together really well.

IW: Coach Alvarez has mentioned that wrestlers have a real advantage in the trenches. Have you noticed a big difference since you began wrestling?

Gyllin: I wrestled a few years when I was in grade school and middle school. I can definitely tell that wrestling has helped tremendously in football, and football has helped tremendously in wrestling.

IW: Are those the only two sports you’ve played in high school?

Gyllin: I’ve played baseball, tennis and track and field, so I’ve been kind of all over in the spring.

IW: You must have been the biggest tennis player in the state.

Gyllin: Yeah.

IW: Is there anybody you really look up to at the college or pro level?

Gyllin: Well I think everybody’s favorite lineman in the world is Tony Boselli. He’s a great athlete and a great person, and I try not to look up to many pro people, because they’re not around me all the time. So I like to look up to my coaches, my parents and my brother.

IW: You have a 3.9 grade point average, which is exceptional for any high school student. How have you had so much success in the classroom?

Gyllin: I guess my parents always taught me to do everything to the best of your ability. It just kind of falls in the category with football. Don’t do it if you’re not going to give it 110 percent.

IW: Do you know what you want to study in college?

Gyllin: Either elementary education, high school education or mechanical engineering.

IW: What did Coach Hueber have to say when you called him with your verbal commitment?

Gyllin: Both sides were very excited. I am very excited to be able to compete at this level with the Badgers. I’m going to have great coaches, great supervision and be surrounded by great people.

IW: What did Coach Alvarez have to say to you?

Gyllin: He was excited that I decided to go to Madison. He’s heard a lot of good things about me, and he can’t wait.

IW: How is your high school season going right now?

Gyllin: Very well. Our team is 6-1, and we’re on track for some playoff games, so that’s a good thing.

IW: What types of things have you done well this year or improved on from last season?

Gyllin: Moving side-to-side, and really laying people out.