Penn State football player Garry Gilliam (#89) announced this afternoon via twitter he will be switching from tight end to offensive tackle starting this spring.
Gilliam, the 6’6″ redshirt junior from Carlisle, PA, debated the position change since November of 2012. After several discussions with head coach Bill O’Brien, he ultimately decided at the conclusion of the regular season switching positions on the line would be beneficial for the Nittany Lions.
“I decided to do what’s best for the team,” Gilliam said. “We have plenty of depth at tight end with great players, but tackle is a lot thinner and I think I could help the team the most there.”
Gilliam, who weighed 262 lbs. at the beginning of the 2012 season as a tight end, now weighs 297 lbs. and is working with the strength and conditioning staff to continue building in size.
Gilliam now joins his roommates Donovan Smith and Nate Cadogan at tackle, leaving the tight end position to promising young players including Kyle Carter, Jesse James, Matt Lehman, Brent Wilkerson and nationally ranked freshman TE Adam Breneman.
After returning to the field for the first time since October 2010 due to a severe knee injury, Gilliam had seven catches and 65 receiving yards at the “Y” TE position during the 2012 season. He was granted sixth-year eligibility by the NCAA , making him a redshirt junior heading into the 2013 season.
Spring football practices begin Monday, March 18th on the practice field outside Lasch Football Building.
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