I recently had the opportunity to interview Steven Gonzalez a 2015 Olman from Union City, NJ. The 6’5″ 305 lbs 4 star OL recruit has been on Ohio State fans radar for a few months now as the coaching staff has made him their top Interior OL recruit. He has recently named OSU his leader and listed a top 5. The young man has dealt with some serious set backs in recent months with the passing of his father last September. The one thing you can tell by the way he answers every question I asked was his father was an important part of his life and helped to mold Steven into the fine young man he is today. Ohio State would be extremely lucky to have them come and play for them and for that matter any school who gets his services will be better off for it.

247sports ranks him as a 4 star and the 59th best recruit in the country. Rivals ranks him a 4 star and the 165th best recruit in the country. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and the 77th best recruit in the country. Scout ranks him a 3 star and the 38th best OT in the country. Steven projects to play the Offensive Guard position at Ohio State but could also play Tackle as well. Here is the interview in its entirety I hope you enjoy it as much as I did doing it. Thank you to Steven Gonzalez for taking the time to do this interview with us here at MotSaG.

SYR- If you could please tell us about your home life… Parents, brothers and/or sisters, where you were born, Have you always lived in in the same place?

Steven- Well I live with my mother and I was born in Englewood, NJ. My father recently passed away in September. I have 1 older brother and a younger brother. Then I have 3 older sisters. I have lived in the same place since I was born. I mean after my fathers passing, it has been pretty rough but we’re fighting through it.

SYR- Can you give us your current stats such as height, weight, 40 yard time, bench press, etc?

Steven- I am 6’5 and 305 lbs. My bench press is 350. Power Clean is 295. Squat is 505. I run a 5.3.

SYR- Tell us a little bit about your HS FB team such as record and offensive style?

Steven- Well we made the semi-finals 3 years in a row. We run a Wing T offense and a 4-3 Defense with a mix of 3-3-5 and 4-4. We went 9-2 this year including playoffs. An OL named Josue Matias starts left guard at Florida State and just recently won the National Championship, he’s #70 and is projected to be a high prospect in next years NFL Draft

SYR- What are your goals for your Senior season?

Steven- My goals for my Senior season is to win a state ring, then i want to be first team all-american (got 2nd team JR All American by MaxPreps), then I want to go to the Under Armour All American Game and participate in that. Then lastly, I want to sign to the college I end up choosing.

SYR- What college football team did you grow up being a fan of and why?

Steven- I really wasn’t too interested into college football as a child, I was more into the NFL and like I didn’t really understand college football too well. But the team I would always hear about being good is Miami U and thats the team some family members of mine like and I grew up liking them as well.

SYR- You have offers from all over the country which one was the most exciting for you to get and why?

Steven- I feel like all my offers were exciting, but the one that stood out was the Ohio State offer. My coaches had no connection with them and they just found me, watched my tape, offered me, and have told me I’m the top interior lineman they’re recruiting in the 2015 class, which is very exciting to know and is a blessing.

SYR- Who would you say is your personal hero and why?

Steven- My father is my personal hero, he’s the one that got me into football and taught me how to play. Ever since then, I’ve been making him proud with all of the attention I’ve received. Also, I feel like my mother is also because she provides so much for me, I’m blessed to have a great mother who cares so much about her sons future and will do anything for him to be great and to succeed. They’ve taught me so much and have matured me into the man I am today.

SYR- If you were going to die tomorrow what would your final meal be?

Steven- Ha, well God forbid I do anytime soon, but if it was to happen my last meal would be rice, black beans and chicken. Some good ole’ Spanish food haha.

SYR- Who do you think you compare to most in the NFL or College right now?

Steven- I feel like I compare a lot to Josue Matias, left guard from Florida State.

SYR- Who is your favorite College player of all time? And favorite NFL player of all time if different from College?

Steven- I really don’t have a favorite college player, there has been to many great college players, its hard to decide. But for NFL, I’d say right now it would be Adrian Peterson. I’m a Minnesota Vikings fan haha.

SYR- You have a top 5 of Ohio State, Rutgers, S Carolina, BC, Wisconsin. is there any other schools who are close to making the top 5?

Steven- Yes there are plenty of schools that haven’t or are close to offering that would crack that top 5 and even make it a top 10. Florida State, Oregon, Michigan State, Alabama, Miami U, Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA, and Penn State would make that list bigger if they were to offer.

SYR- Do you currently have a leader?

Steven- Yes out of the offers I have so far, Ohio State is my leader.

SYR- Do you know when you would like to announce your commitment, if yes, when?

Steven- Well, I’m feel like I want to commit on Signing Day, but if I decide before and i’m solid on it, I will commit early.

SYR- Have you visited Ohio State yet if yes how did it go? and do you have any plans to visit them in the future? If yes, When?

Steven- I haven’t visited Ohio State yet, but I’m most likely going to see when I can head up for either a Junior Day or a spring practice.

SYR- What is your impression of Ohio State and Urban Meyer?

Steven- Coach Meyer is a proven winner with his National Championship win with Florida and the great success he’s had coaching. He’s just a great guy and a great coach. Ohio State to me is a great school, they send people to the NFL, they have great academics, they have a good fan base and a beautiful campus, and all of the coaches are great guys, especially Coach Warinner and Coach Pantoni.

SYR- Do you hear from Ohio State often?

Steven- Yes I do, I talk to Coach Warinner once every couple of weeks, and I talk to Coach Pantoni a lot.

SYR- Who is your lead recruiter for the Buckeyes?

Steven- Coach Warinner is my lead recruiter for me.

SYR- What would you like Buckeye Nation to know about you that they most likely don’t already know?

Steven- Well I just would like them to know I’m very very interested in OSU and I can’t wait to go up there and let’s say I do commit to OSU, you’ll be getting a great offensive lineman who will be ready to work, on the field and in the classroom, and be the best player/student/man he can be. I will represent the University very well.

You can follow Steven Gonzalez by clicking @StevenG511