Price primed to fortify rep as fierce hitter

Gabe Price holds all the school records for tackles at East Forsyth.

Gabe Price put the finishing touches on a stellar high school career when he was selected to play in the annual East-West All-Star Football Game played in Greensboro a week ago. During his time at East Forsyth, the 6-feet-1, 218 pounds linebacker claimed sole ownership of all the school records in tackles. In all, Price had 358 career hits.

During his junior and senior seasons, he recorded triple-digits in tackles. The single-game mark of 23 stops also belongs to Price.

Price will play at Wingate University.

“I was thrilled when I got the news that I was picked for the All-Star Game,” he said. “It gave me the chance to showcase to college coaches what I'm capable of. This game features some of the best players in the state. So, to me, it's like playing in a college level contest.”

The All-Star game wasn't the end of the line for Price, who has signed to play at Wingate University, a school that started recruiting him as a junior. Price isn't making any predictions about what amount of playing he might get as a first-year freshman.

“I admit being a little nervous about making the transition to college,” he said. “My whole focus with college football is to stay humble and prove myself as someone who's always working hard to get better at his position.”

Price's high school career had a most memorable start. As a freshman in 2012, East Forsyth (13-1) finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0 and advanced to the third round of the Class 4-A state playoffs. It proved to be a season in which the Eagles made numerous TV appearances on the Friday Night High School Football Highlights show which aired on WXII, Channel 11 in Winston-Salem.

By the end of his career at East, there was no disputing Price's status as arguably the premier defensive player in northwest North Carolina. The post-season accolades poured in, which included being the Piedmont Triad Conference Defensive Player of the Year, along with all-conference honors and being named to the Winston-Salem Journal's All-Northwest team.

Price will always treasure the Eagles exciting playoff runs and conference championships. But what he'll treasure most, he explained, is the strong bond he established with his teammates, especially those who graduated with him in the Class of 2015.

“Most of the football players in the senior class have been with each other since we were little kids,” he said. “We grew up together and either played on the same team or against each other when we played Pop Warner football. It's a very special relationship with those guys. And that's because all of us are friends for life.”