Gallier to play football at University of Sioux Falls
By FRED KRONER
When Jack Gallier reflects on his early years in football, he remembers the Snickers.
No one was laughing at him, but he admitted he didn’t take the game seriously as a third-grader.
His long-term memory bank still focuses on the Snickers; however.
“My Pee Wee coaches had to bribe me to run our ‘superlap’ for warm-ups at 13 Acres Field with a Snickers candy bar,” Gallier said. “At first, I wasn’t very good at all.
“From third to fifth grade, I was pretty soft and really only played because my friends and older brother (Mitchell) played football.
“In sixth grade, something clicked, and I started to get really aggressive on defense.”
His overall youth career was not an indicator of how his career would go in football.
Gallier transformed himself into a four-year mainstay with the M-S varsity football teams, each of which were state-ranked in his final three years of high school competition.
He was not only a four-year starter for the Bulldogs on the defensive line, but also a four-time all-Apollo Conference first-team selection.
As a sophomore, junior and senior, Gallier was an unanimous all-conference choice.
“I feel that happened because of the work I had put in and because of the direction and push my brother gave me,” he said. “I will not be outworked, plus my mentality wasn’t that of a freshman.
“I knew I could compete, I just needed that chance. That freshman year motivated me mainly because we wanted to get back to the playoffs. Everything we did since that year has led us to where we are today, Apollo Conference champs and playoffs three years in a row.
“You don’t do that without a lot of work and preparation.”
Gallier will have the chance in the future to continue playing the game he has devoted himself to during the past three years. He has committed to University of Sioux Falls, where former M-S teammate Tyler Uken (a redshirt freshman in 2023) plays.
“Jack has always been one of the biggest and strongest kids in our program, but his relentless effort on the gridiron is why he has started varsity since he was a freshman,” Bulldog head coach Jon Adkins said.
Gallier’s contributions have always gone beyond what he brings on Game Day.
“He has been a leader since Day 1 of stepping on the scene,” Adkins said. “When he speaks, players listen.
“His brother was a great leader for our program, and I know he would be proud that Jack is following in his footsteps.
“I could go on and on about all the great things about Jack from academics to an overall genuine person who can light up a room. He gives some great speeches after practice as well and loves to quote (Clemson coach) Dabo Swinney, just like his dad (Rob).”
Jack Gallier played a part in 32 varsity wins during his prep football career, a total that could have been greater had COVID-19 not limited his freshman season to six games.
Even with that limitation, 32 wins ties for the third-best total at M-S during any four-year period since the school started 11-man football in 1957.
“I love football because there is no other sport like it,” Gallier said. “In football, you have to have 11 guys all working toward the common goal. Everyone must do their job.
“Football is the greatest sport because we are more brothers than teammates. We go into battle every single week together. Nothing compares to Friday Night Lights and the crowd roaring for the Bulldogs.”
Gallier was among the Bulldogs’ top four tacklers each of the past four years and amassed 163 tackles in his career, including a single-game high of 15.
Though he played freshman basketball for the Bulldogs, Gallier trained for football full-time thereafter and did not participate in another sport.
“The key to my development has been commitment in the weight room and growing my technical skills, the craft of being a defensive tackle,” Gallier said. “My brother, Mitchell, has pushed me since Day 1.
“Once he got me in the weight room, I loved it. Getting bigger and stronger has been key. Playing with Mitchell for two years on varsity also showed me what amazing leadership looked like. He has taught me so much and pushed me to be relentless in my growth as a football player.”
Gallier and his family elected for the 6-foot, 240-pounder to receive extra training at the FIST Football Academy, in St. Charles.
“My mom (Nikki) heard about it on Twitter, we went and checked it out,” Jack Gallier said. “Coach (Kevin) Sabo and Coach (Benjamin) Salomon are amazing technicians at their craft.
“I’ve added so much to my arsenal as a defensive tackle because of their training. I usually go up there a couple times a month in the off-season. I also committed to improving my speed, even at a higher weight. Every year in high school I’ve gained 20-25 pounds and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t getting slower as I was gaining weight.”
A former M-S athlete and coach, Chris Warren, also had a direct impact on Gallier’s progression.
“Last spring and this past summer, I did speed training with Chris Warren through his Parkland program,” Gallier said. “It really helped me improve my running technique and I actually got faster.”
There was a litany of others who have had an impact throughout the years.
“So many people were instrumental to my football growth,” Jack Gallier said, “all my coaches, including Coach (Henry) Turek and Coach Adkins.
“I’m so grateful Coach Adkins came to M-S and has built a football culture here. I’ve loved every minute of being a Bulldog.”
Like many other teen-aged athletes have learned, a commitment from family was imperative to his ultimate success.
“My parents have made sacrifices,” Gallier said. “They’ve supported me every step of the way. My dad (Rob) has coached football for years and my mom was a college athlete, so they both push me in different ways.
“They have high expectations of me, too.”
Adkins said the role of Gallier’s family shouldn’t be minimized.
“From the first time I met Jack when he was in eighth grade, I knew this kid had what it takes,” Adkins said. “His parents and brother and sister have been a huge driving force behind the success he has had.
“He gets all of his drive, desire and effort from them.”
In addition to attending camps and showcases and along with dedicating himself to weight training, there was another element which Gallier said was critical.
“I did field work/technical drills, and I kept my nutrition very clean,” he said. “I’ve gotten stronger, faster and more explosive in the game of football.”
The Snickers bars that he craved at one time are no longer a prominent part of his eating habits.
The decision to make playing collegiate football a goal was easier than making it a reality.
“The recruiting trail has been exciting and sometimes frustrating,” Jack Gallier said. “Every spring and summer I went through the summer circuit – camps and showcases – to get my name out there.
“My mom also helped me be pretty active on Twitter, getting film and other information to coaches from a lot of schools. This late spring and summer is when I seriously started getting communication from coaches and some offers.”
Before he committed to the University of Sioux Falls, Gallier had offers to play at McKendree College, Minnesota State and Cumberland University.
He was still in communication with coaches from other universities before he finalized his decision.
“The recruiting process was kind of brutal,” Jack Gallier said. “There are exciting times and then there are frustrating times. Recruiting at the Division 1 level is so much about measurables and I check every box except I’m only 6 foot.
“I’d have Division 1 FCS schools tell me they love what I do, but I’d be a late offer because they’re going after that 6-foot-3 guy before me.”
Rather than leave anything to chance later, Gallier opted to take advantage of what he could control.
“I started to embrace the fact that I could play right away at the D2 level, get a lot of money to pay for school and play really good championship football,” he said. “I think it’s a great fit for me.”
He and his family were diligent about getting his name in front of college coaches.
“The offer came about after I put my hudl film out on Twitter from the first three season games,” Jack Gallier said. “I messaged a bunch of colleges, and USF was one of them.
“I immediately got a response about them wanting a phone call that night. I talked with the USF defensive tackles coach that night and he offered me a scholarship right then.
“He said he loved my style of play and how he felt I’d fit their system. The night after, the head coach called and we talked through a lot of the details of the offer.”
Soon thereafter, Gallier ended his recruitment with a verbal commitment to the University of Sioux Falls, which has four national championships in its history (1996, 2006, 2008 and 2009 in NAIA).
“I actually didn’t visit USF (which has competed at the NCAA Division II level since 2011) for a Game Day visit until after I had already committed,” Gallier said. “After talking to the coaches, I just had a gut feeling it was the place for me.
“Our conversations were excellent. They answered my parents’ questions and Tyler Uken, who I played with in high school AND our families are friends, goes there.
“It just felt like the right place. I never thought I would end up nine hours away, but I’m so excited for what they’re doing at USF and playing with Tyler Uken again.”
Gallier is considering majoring in business and/or sports management/marketing.
“I love sports and am pretty good at math,” he said. “I see myself being involved in sports in the future at some level. In 10 years, hopefully I’m working with a sports team and supporting my family.”
Having a familiar face close by will help ease Gallier’s transition to college.
“My family is extremely close,” Jack Gallier said. “Not just my parents and brother, Mitchell, and sister, Reese, but my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.
“We all live relatively close and see each other all the time. I always have a huge crowd of family at my games.”
The turnout of relatives at his games is so large that teammate Braden Pagel took notice.
“Braden Pagel once looked at my family taking a picture after the game and said, ‘holy family tree and a half,’” Gallier recalled. “It will be hard to be further away, for sure, but my parents will come to almost every game.
“I know other family members will come to a couple games a year, too. Tyler Uken will be there as well, so that will help.”
The University of Sioux Falls finished this season with a 3-8 overall record. The 6-9, 290-pound Uken played in eight games, starting four on offense at tackle. The team was 2-2 in games he started.
Gallier will be prepared to make an impact as a freshman.
“In talking with the coaches, I see myself making an immediate impact for USF,” he said. “They had an entire new coaching staff hired last spring, so some players hit the portal. They have a talented but young team this year and need to shore up some positions like DL.
“They see me playing at the 3-tech mainly, but really any interior line spot. The coaching staff would like me to gain a bit more weight. My goal is to be 280 for playing weight as a college freshman. After high school football is over, I’ll continue my weight training, technical development, nutrition/bulking and work on speed/explosiveness. I’ll go in ready to contribute.”
He won’t take anything for granted, and recognizes he will be the newcomer once he gets to campus.
“I don’t mind proving myself,” he said. “I know I have to go in and learn the system. Football IQ will be just as important as anything else.
“I have to be open to learning and just put the work in.”
Gallier can’t imagine playing any other position.
“I absolutely love the defensive line because it’s the most violent position and you have to be really smart to play it,” he said. “All great teams start and end with the trench guys.
“I’ve stayed with football all these years because of my passion for the sport growing over time, but also because I love the brotherhood and family feel of football.”
Adkins anticipates that Gallier will indeed continue his stellar football career once he gets to Sioux Falls.
“He gets to play in a great program and see his former teammate, Tyler Uken, again,” Adkins said. “It’s kind of like when one of your kids is leaving the nest, I hate seeing him go because I’m sure gonna miss him, but I know that he has what it takes to be great in life and I cannot wait to see him grow.
“I’m incredibly proud of him and happy for him going to Sioux Falls.”
There’s a reason beyond football that Adkins is not anxious to see Gallier leave Mahomet.
“Jack is an incredible player and even better person,” Adkins said, “a pretty good baby-sitter as well. My kids love him.”
