Boise State roster countdown 2020: Day 99, Herbert Gums

The countdown just got started, so why am I already winded? Darn quarantine. Since there are just 99 days until we’re supposed to play football, how about we look at a newcomer that could wear our first palindrome of the year—DT Herbert Gums

#99, Herbert Gums, True Freshman, DT

Stats

Height: 6’ 1”

Weight: 284 lbs.

High School: Diboll High School, Diboll, TX

How’d he get to the Blue™?

Gums was a one man wrecking crüe at Texas’s Diboll high school, where he rated 33rd nationally at his position, according to ESPN. Gums was the 11-3A Most Valuable Player as a senior and helped his team to the area round of the 3A Division 1 playoffs in his final season as well. Obviously known (and recruited) for his defensive prowess, the bowling ball of a human also played running back for his squad as a sophomore—and ran for 564 yards and six TDs. Ooooooh man. Rated a high 3-star recruit by 247sports (ESPN gave him that coveted 4th star), Gums generated plenty of interest and the Broncos secured his services over “Stone Cold” Stephen F. Austin, Arizona, Arkansas, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisiana, LSU, Missouri, New Mexico, Sam Houston State, and Texas Tech (exhale).

Nickname

“Gumshoe”

No, YOU played too much Carmen Sandiego.

Look-a-like

Getting a little Armand Nance vibe from young Herbert. If he wants to carry DBs off the field after an INT, that’s cool too.

Career Highlights

Rated a four-star prospect by ESPN. District 11-3A Most Valuable Player as a senior. All-District 11-3A First-teamer as a senior. Helped lead Diboll to the 3A Division 1 playoffs as a senior. Led Diboll to the Class 4A Division II playoffs in 2018.

2020 Prospectus

Ooooweeee. If you aren’t excited about Gums yet (I know, Fruit Stripes was a letdown), you’re about to be because instead of waxing poetic about what Gums brings to the table, it’s best if you just take a look at what he has to offer...I’ll get back to it in a moment.

Okay, now that you’ve had a moment to process all of that—holy cow. This kid is what we used to call a “de-cleater” and what we also still call a “de-cleater”. Every hit on that highlight tape for the first 2 minutes gave me ET/Elliott sympathy pains and I was left with a sizable headache. The kid has the chance to be a really good one for the Broncos and luckily for him (and us)...he’s stepping in to a position of need. As I mentioned yesterday, the Broncos are losing LEGION on the D-line and immediate depth is a must. Guys like Herbert Gums provide that and more. Now, there are a lot of moving parts between now and September, but I’d be rather shocked if the newbies don’t see time in 2020. Gums and yesterday’s highlightee (it is SO a word) Divine Obichere should make an immediate impact unless some other act of God occurs (and frankly, I’m getting a little sick of those). My dentist always tells me that gum health is vital, and if Gums health is solid, I can all but hear those helmets cracking.

Is he on Twitter?

He is—and although he doesn’t tweet a ton, I doubt he’d mind a few follows (@GumsHerbert)

Completely made up fact

Since I’m sure you were going to ask, no...Gums does not chew gum. He says it doesn’t adequately strengthen the jaw (very important for defensive tackles). Instead, Gums chews hunks of leather. To date, he’s bitten through 327 mouth guards.