College football coaches suddenly catching on to Spartans’ Caleb Brewer

Caleb Brewer was excited about his switch this season from offensive tackle to tight end. Then he learned about the dirty side of the job.

He didn’t get his first catch until Wyomissing’s fifth game, at Elco. It didn’t go so well. Getting tackled, the junior quickly learned, isn’t nearly as much fun as being on the delivering end of a big hit.

“My face went right into the ground,” he said of the aftermath of his first reception. “All the turf got in my mouth.”

Brewer knows why cows don’t eat artifical turf; it doesn’t taste good.

“It must suck being a running back,” Brewer figures.

It’s not exactly a thrill lining up opposite the 6-5, 285-pound Brewer. He has a nasty streak on the football football field and isn’t reluctant to show it.

“He loves to hit,” said Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum.

Brewer showed that last season when he started a few games on the defensive line and saw time at quick tackle for the District 3 Class 3A champs.

Wolfrum saw how much of an impact All-State tight end Aiden Mack (now playing at Richmond) made as a blocker on the edge and thought Brewer would be a perfect replacement.

Through six games he has: The Spartans are unbeaten, ranked No. 1 in the state and have rushed for nearly 200 more yards than any of the other 36 teams in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

Running backs Charlie McIntyre, Drew Eisenhower and Matt Kramer have played a big part in that, as has a massive offensive line that includes 6-5, 295-pound Penn State recruit Jven Williams and 6-4, 275-pound Pacen Ziegler.

The Spartans are so strong all along their front line — which includes guard Jack Gartner, tackle Cooper Young and center Isaac Focht — Wolfrum said they can afford to employ Brewer at tight end.

“When you’ve got somebody of that size who can (block like that), that really helps a Wing-T offense,” Wolfrum said. “It’s a pretty important spot in our blocking scheme. We’re probably gonna keep him there (next season), just because the position’s so important to us.”

Being extra-large is one thing. Having the mentality and desire for contact is another. Brewer has it.

He’s been a wrestler his whole life and loves that sport every bit as much as football. He says the footwork, toughness and aggressiveness it takes to success on the mat — he went 35-9 as a sophomore heavyweight, finishing second in District 3 and qualifying for the PIAA Tournament — translates to football.

“It’s a tough sport,” Brewer said of wrestling. “It teaches you to be physical and to work hard.”

“Obviously his size jumps out at you, and he can move (well for his size),” Wolfrum said. “He is impressive when he comes off the ball, and he”ll block to the whistle. That comes across on the film. A coach from a Big 10 school texted me and said it looks like he likes to block. That’s a good description.”

Last week Brewer received his first scholarship offer, from the University of Maryland. Within the week he had five more offers, from Boston College, Houston, Toledo, Western Michigan and Pittsburgh. A seventh, from Duke, came this week.

Penn State coach James Franklin is flying in for Saturday’s game against Cocalico, purportedly as a goodwill gesture towards Williams, his prize line recruit. You can bet he’ll be watching Brewer’s every move. He, like most other college coaches, are looking at Brewer as an offensive tackle (not a tight end).

College coaches got their first glimpse of Brewer last season. Wolfrum made sure of that.

“When people came in to see Jven, we made sure to walk Caleb by, so they could see him, (too)” Wolfrum said.

Brewer says he was “kind of shocked” last week when he received his first major offer, even though his Wyomissing coaches told him they would be coming.

“Coach (Steve) O’Neil has faith in me,” Brewer said of his offensive line coach. “He said you have the potential to play college football, and that I needed to really work hard.”

Brewer played quarterback during his youth football days in the Twin Valley school district; a growth spurt around sixth grade changed his course. When he got to Wyomissing as a seventh-grader he took part in running back drills “but I was just too slow,” he said. “I grew too much.”

Brewer’s still growing — about an inch since the end of last season. He expects to get even taller; he says he has uncles who are seven feet tall.

He admits he didn’t take football, or his school work, seriously until ninth grade. That’s when the lightbulb went off and he began to think about his future. His size, skills and strong grades are a combination that gives him one in football.

Much like Williams at this time year ago an avalanche of college recruiters are now descending upon him. He got three offers in the same day last week.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “That was kind of crazy.”

Ross Tucker, the former Wyomissing and NFL lineman who founded GoBigRecruiting.com, is working with Brewer, as he did with Williams. Tucker mentioned Brewer’s name to University of Maryland Defensive Analyst A.J. Reisig, the former Central Catholic running back.

Before you knew it Reisig was on the phone offering a scholarship.

Brewer has benefitted from having Williams as a teammate. He leans on him for advice in the recruiting game and sees him as a role model.

“He’s always worked hard,” Brewer said. “He’s an example I use as an athele.”