ASU’s Eric Gentry makes several freshman All-American teams
Dec 8, 2021, 10:23 AM
Highly productive linebackers Kyle Soelle, Darien Butler and Merlin Robertson made for three of the Arizona State Sun Devils’ top four leading tacklers in 2021, but their performances didn’t overshadow the rise of true freshman Eric Gentry.
A handful of college football media websites tabbed Gentry as a freshman All-American for 2021.
He received high grades at Pro Football Focus, which named him to its freshman All-American team. Writes PFF’s Anthony Treash:
At 6-foot-6, 200-pounds, Gentry stood out on the field for his lanky frame and his disciplined play. The three-star true freshman had the lowest negatively graded play rate against the run among Pac-12 off-ball linebackers and allowed only 59 yards in coverage on 144 such snaps while breaking up two passes.
The staff of The Athletic also included Gentry on the All-American list for freshman, as did the Maxwell Football Club and 247 Sports.
247 Sports’ Cooper Petagna writes the following:
Arizona State linebacker Eric Gentry, a Philadelphia product, saw his first extensive action of the season Week 4 against Colorado and started in three games in 2021. He saw extensive time while playing outside the starting lineup as well. Of freshman linebackers with significant snaps, Gentry ranks as one of the best, according to PFF.
Gentry tallying 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, two pass deflections and a sack while producing against the run came despite him learning a new position.
Listed as a three-star edge rusher coming out of Neumann Goretti High School in Philadelphia, Gentry played more as an inside linebacker his freshman year, hanging well in coverage when he wasn’t stuffing the run.
He may not have started more than a few games, but Gentry earned more than 250 snaps, according to PFF.
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