Starting Lineup: It’s the size of the fight in this ‘Dawg that matters most
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season, and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked).
This is the 12th installment in the 13-part series.
Madyx Gruber, Wilson
| 5-10 | 161 | Senior | QB/WR/CB/KR |
BACKSTORY: American humorist Mark Twain could’ve been talking about Madyx Gruber when he said: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
Gruber goes 5-10, 160ish pounds. He looks small on the basketball court; he’s dwarfed by many on the football field. That has had little effect on his game.
“I’ve always been the smallest guy on the court or on the field,” the Wilson senior said. “I’ve always had that mentality to just go right at them.”
Older brother Syre reminded him that heart trumps height; those words became Madyx’s mantra.
“Madyx just fights,” says his mother, Jaime. “He doesn’t care (about being small).”
His lack of size didn’t stop him from leading the team in receptions (28) or touchdowns (10) last season, nor did it prevent him from coming up fast from his spot at cornerback to encounter bigger guys.
“I love hitting people and taking the ball (away from them),” he said. “You’ve gotta work for everything (against me). If they’re gonna catch it, I’m gonna make you work for it.”
Gruber was the Bulldogs’ best receiver and cover corner last season. Now he’s got a new job to tackle: Quarterback.
With no experienced hands ready to take over behind center Wilson will turn that spot over to one of its best athletes and savviest competitors.
Gruber’s foot speed, decision-making, and experience under the Friday night lights – in the fall, and in the winter, when he led Wilson to a Berks basketball championship – makes him the best option at quarterback.
“He’s not gonna freeze (under fire),” said Wilson coach Doug Dahms, who has had success with other basketball stars, such as Shane Stafford and Zack Zweizig, running the offense. “They’re used to pressure, and they’re used to improvising when they have to.”
The Bulldogs had a great improviser taking snaps last season: Tommy Hunsicker. He could think on his feet and used them to extend plays and turn losses into big gains.
Gruber doesn’t have the experience behind center nor the arm strength that Hunsicker brought to the job but he’s one of the fastest players on the team and he’s a guy his teammates will look up to (figuratively more than literally in most cases).
“He creates a lot of headaches for the defense with his running ability,” Dahms said.
Wilson quarterbacks coach Chad Henne views at Gruber like Cam Jones, an All-State talent who could make plays no matter where he lined up.
“If we can get Madyx the ball we feel comfortable he can exploit some weaknesses on the defensive side,” Henne said. “(He’s) just as elusive as Tommy.”
Henne has been tutoring Gruber on the finer points of quarterback play for months. He’s been impressed with how quickly the senior has picked it up.
“Exceptional,” Henne said. “He’s a great kid, really smart. He’s definitely exceeded my expectations.”
Gruber last worked as a quarterback as a sophomore. As a receiver he understands the passing game and the relationship between passers and receivers.
“He understands where guys should be in their route,” Henne said. “That’s helped him. He’s done a great job reading the defenses and can throw any ball we need him to throw; he can make the deeper throw, the immediate, and short game.”
Gruber’s only pass attempt last season went for a 40-yard touchdown but he’s not expected to put up big passing numbers. In fact, he’s not expected to be the full-time quarterback, either. He’ll likely split that job with junior Mason Young.
Gruber is so valuable in so many aspects of the game the Bulldogs will need to be judicious in how much they demand of him. Playing quarterback 60 snaps in a game might take away from his performance on defense, or special teams.
Gruber averaged 16.5 yards on his 28 receptions last season, with nine TDs, tied for third-most in Berks. He developed into an outstanding cover corner who picked off a team-high three passes, taking one back 50 yards for a TD. He averaged a team-best 22.6 yards on kickoff returns and also fielded a couple punts.
Gruber loves to play each of those spots. When Offensive Coordinator Jeremy Palm brought up the possibility of playing some quarterback Gruber’s response was: “Whatever the team needs.”
Gruber makes no bones about the fact that basketball’s his No. 1 sport; he’d prefer to play that in college if given a choice. If he does big things this fall that perspective could change.
Gruber averaged 11.6 points, second on the team, as a junior, with 35 3-pointers. He scored a career-high 31 points in a Berks semifinal win over top-seeded Berks Catholic and made the game-saving defensive play in the final seconds to preserve a 54-53 win over Reading High in the championship game.
He broke like a defensive back on a backdoor pass that could’ve won the game, knocking it away.
Gruber took his game to a higher level this summer, earning the MVP award in the West Reading Summer League.
ROLE: Quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, kick returner.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Could play basketball or football.
Starting Lineup
| Xavier Beatty | Reading High | WR/S/CB/KR | Sr. |
| Aris Drake | Twin Valley | T/DT | Sr. |
| Keyshawn Efese | Reading High | T/DE/DT | Sr. |
| Chase Eisenhower | Wyomissing | FB/LB | Jr. |
| Madyx Gruber | Wilson | QB/WR/CB/KR | Sr. |
| Justic Hardy | Wyomissing | HB/WR/CB/KR | Soph. |
| Reese Hohl | Gov. Mifflin | RB/WR/CB/KR | Sr. |
| Evan Johnson | Twin Valley | RB/DB/KR | Sr. |
| Evan Myers | Twin Valley | QB/DB | Sr. |
| Luke Spotts | Schuylkill Valley | TE/LB | Sr. |
| Logan Wegman | Exeter | T/DT | Sr. |
| Jayden Zandier | Exeter | RB/CB/KR | Sr. |
