Norman North running back Gabe Trevillison has spent almost as much time on the sidelines as he has on the field the past two seasons. Injuries cut short both seasons, as he broke his left collarbone his sophomore year and then his right collarbone his junior season.
When the 2020 season rolled around, no one was ready to get back on the field more than Trevillison. Unfortunately, the senior was forced to wait an extra week after the Timberwolves’ season opener with crosstown rival Norman was canceled due to COVID-19.
When Trevillison finally got the opportunity to play last week, he returned with a splash, running for 233 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in a 46-7 win over Edmond Memorial.
“It felt good to get back on the field and score some touchdowns,” exclaimed Trevillison, who had surgeries on both collarbones after last season.
“What he did on Friday night is what we expect out of him and what we know that he can do,” said Norman North head coach Justin Jones. “He’s got good vision and he’s a strong, physical runner. He’s got speed to go with it. I was really happy with his overall performance.”
Trevillison showed flashes of his ability last season before suffering his season-ending injury. He rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his three starts, including a 200-yard performance in a win over Mustang.
Despite missing so much action the past two seasons, Trevillison never let it get him down.
“You can’t really get down because of the cards you were dealt,” said the 5-9, 185-pound tailback. “You just have to keep working.”
“He gives a great perspective for guys understanding that you just never know when your last play is becasuse it’s happened to him,” stated Jones, who’s in his third season at Norman North. “He’s able to use that and speak from experience.”
“It’s been different,” admitted Trevillison. “You just have to take it day by day. You still have to practice and work hard. It’s not always certain that we get to play a game each week.”
He’s not the most vocal player on the team, but Jones says he’s one of the guys the team looks to for leadership.
“Gabe is a quiet guy,” said Jones. “He’s a guy that leads more by example, but he’s a guy that’s done a really good job of taking some of these young guys under his wing and sharing some of his experiences.”
Oklahoma’s high school football recruiting class of 2021 has some good running backs on its list, with A.J. Green of Tulsa Union and Qwontrel Walker of Stillwater getting the majority of the early-season headlines. Trevillison might be described as a “sleeper” by some recruiting services, but his improved speed and his play in the season opener should make recruiters take notice.
“This summer I hit 4.5 flat, so my speed has definitely improved,” said Trevillison of his 40 time. “I’ve had a little bit of interest from schools, but no offers yet. I don’t want this to be my last season of football. That would be horrible.”
Trevillison and the Norman North Timberwolves get another opportunity to showcase their skills this Friday, September 18th, when they take on Yukon in a quality showdown. YurView will televise this Ford Game of the Week (Cox Channel 3 in Tulsa and Channel 93 in Oklahoma City) at 7 pm CT or watch the game online.
