Rivals100 QB Gebbia completes cross-country recruiting trip
Tristan Gebbia left his California home last week and took a cross-country trip that included seeing three of his top schools including his parents' alma mater.
The Rivals100 four-star quarterback visited West Virginia, Ole Miss and Utah before returning to Calabasas, California. He’d recently released a top five of West Virginia, Ole Miss, Washington, Washington State and Nebraska. Utah has joined that group since the visit.
“I’m looking for a family feel,” Gebbia said. “It’s going to be somewhere I can live and become a better person. A place I can be and love the next four or five years of my life.
“I may cut to a final three, but if one school separates soon, then I’ll commit off my current list.”
Gebbia’s father, Rich, and his mother, Kimberly, both attended Ole Miss, and it was the couple’s first trip back to Oxford since graduating approximately 25 years ago. Rich Gebbia is most known for his first career touchdown, a 24-yard scoring grab for the tight end with four seconds left to beat Tulane, 32-28, in 1989.
“He said he loved playing ball there,” Tristan Gebbia said about his dad and Ole Miss. “Mom went there, too, and they both loved it. They said obviously a lot has changed, but it has maintained it’s feel.”
Gebbia met with head coach Hugh Freeze, offensive coordinator Dan Werner and other members of the coaching staff.
“It went really well, and I loved everything,” Gebbia said. “It’s a great place to play football, and the coaches are all great. I know they have a great history, and I’m looking forward to continuing my relationship with them.”
Ole Miss’ current depth chart features senior Chad Kelly, redshirt freshman Jason Pellerin and true freshman Shea Patterson, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2016 class. Patterson’s presence won’t be a factor in Gebbia’s decision, he said.
“Talent and competition, no matter where you go, are going to be at every Division I school,” Gebbia said. “(Patterson) is a great player, and I would look forward to competing with him.”
The Gebbias traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah after Oxford to see the Utes, who offered following the visit.
“Utah is a beautiful, great place, and it’s a beautiful campus around the mountains,” Gebbia said. “There are the best ski resorts around it, and they are going to throw the ball around a lot more.”
The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder is thinking about return trips to Nebraska and Washington State in the near future. However, other than his college decision, Gebbia wants to finish his high school career on the right note.
Gebbia, coached by former Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen, completed 63 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards last season. He threw 45 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
“It’s obviously a blessing that I’ve been able to be successful,” Gebbia said. “I want to get better for next season and get another ring for my seniors. It’s team before me. I wouldn’t have stars and rankings without these guys around.”
