Teddy Gallagher
Linebacker / Coastal Carolina
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Teddy Gallagher: I am 6’1, 235, and I ran around a 4.7 last time.
Alex Khvatov: How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Teddy Gallagher: We had spring ball in the winter. We were supposed to do winter conditioning after spring break, but everything got shut down. One of my roommates’ dad works with a high school team. We trained there. We also got a squat rack with my roommates. Silas Kelly and I worked out all the time in our house. We watched film and games.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Teddy Gallagher: I played baseball a little bit in high school. We had dominant programs in every sport at my high school. Growing up, I played every sport. In high school, I focused on football.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?
Teddy Gallagher: I was a late bloomer. My freshman year was 5’5 and 130 pounds. I played slot receiver and DB. From my freshman to sophomore year, I went to 5’9. My junior year, I was almost 6’0. As I grew more, I became a LB.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Teddy Gallagher: I was born in Los Angeles and moved to New Jersey for five years. Then my family came back to Pasadena, CA. I was talking to a few Mountain West schools. I had to make a decision, but I waited too long in the process. They wanted me to commit right away. Wyoming was focused on me. I went the JUCO route.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at a junior college?
Teddy Gallagher: I spent one year at Glendale Community College. Coastal Carolina and Vanderbilt came late in the process.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to Coastal Carolina?
Teddy Gallagher: My high school head coach Marvin Sanders became the defensive coordinator at Coastal. I wanted to play for him again. He is not with a program any more. Coastal Carolina also had a family atmosphere.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Teddy Gallagher: Sophomore year, I was playing behind Silas (Kelly) at Mike. The fifth game of the year, Silas went down with an injury, and I played every snap of the last three quarters. I had 11 tackles and three TFL’s that game. They moved Silas to Will LB, and I started at Mike the rest of the year. I had 15 tackles against App State and 14 tackles against Georgia Southern. This past year, I had a good year. I didn’t play the last game because of a knee injury. I made third team all-conference. I was just named captain this year. I am shooting for first team all-conference and defensive player of the year this season.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from your team this upcoming season?
Teddy Gallagher: On defense, 11 guys swarming to the ball. We call ourselves the Black Swarm defense. We have fun and hit people. We had a lot of close losses last season. We talked as a team after the season. The little things were the difference in the four games with close losses. We have to master the little things, and it will pay off this year. We have two non-conference games scheduled this year. The first game is at Kansas. We scheduled Liberty as an out of conference game.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Teddy Gallagher: My defensive coordinator always tells me that I am one of the smartest football players that he has ever coached. It is my job to get everyone lined up right. I am able to recognize tendencies and formations. I think that I am one of the best LB’s in between the tackles in the conference. My run defense and instincts are good.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Teddy Gallagher: There are times when I stop my feet on contact and lose out on some tackles. I have also been working on my sideline to sideline speed.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Teddy Gallagher: The Kansas game last year. We had a hurricane that was coming. It was supposed to be category 4. It was coming to Myrtle Beach. We had to move inland. We packed up and moved to Greenville, South Carolina. We practiced at local high schools there. We played a great game as a defense. I had a TFL on third down with one minute left in the game. Our defense only allowed seven points.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Teddy Gallagher: Coach Staggs is great. He has taught me a lot. You don’t have to have 4.4 speed. You can be the guy who is efficient with his feet. You need to have a good sense of what the other team runs out of certain formations. He has taught me that.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Teddy Gallagher: I don’t have one. My mom’s side of the family roots for the Raiders. My dad’s side are Patriots fans. I enjoy watching football.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Teddy Gallagher: It was Luke Kuechly. Now it is Bobby Wagner.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Teddy Gallagher: On defense, DE Tarron Jackson is an animal. DL C.J. Brewer is a great player and he is incredibly smart. Obviously, my roommate LB Silas Kelly. RB CJ Marable is electric. Isaiah Likely will be one of the top TE’s during his senior year. He is a junior this year and he should have a great year. C Trey Carter is an animal. He gets after it and pushes people around. He is the best center in the Sun Belt. We also have some newcomers to watch out for. LB Kendricks Gladney is a transfer from Middle Tennessee, RB Shermari Jones is a transfer from JUCO, and DL Jeffrey Gunter who came back to our team. He transferred from NC State.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Teddy Gallagher: We played them last year, and we will play them again this year. The hardest guy to tackle was RB Pooka Williams from Kansas. That guy is very quick.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a LB?
Teddy Gallagher: Heart. You are the heart and soul of the defense. You are the captain of the ship. People want to see how you will react when things are going good and bad.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Teddy Gallagher: Competition. I love to go out there and always compete.
Alex Khvatov: How important is education to you?
Teddy Gallagher: Education means a lot to me. I am a finance major. It has always been a part of who I am. You have to be great in everything you do and that includes school.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
Teddy Gallagher: My toughness. I have played through some injuries during my career.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Teddy Gallagher: Away from the field, I like to go fishing. I play Fortnite with my teammates. I love watching NBA. I am a big Lakers fan. Lebron had a couple of tough games to start the playoffs, but they are up 2-1 now. People hit the panic button too early.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Teddy Gallagher: I love math and finance. But I want to stay around football. The game of football gave me so much. I love football. I love the chess match between two teams. I want to get into coaching.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Teddy Gallagher: Heart, toughness, loyalty, effort, and fun.
