Bauer Excited For Big Year
This time of year, everybody is focused on football, but it’s the fact that Bo Bauer has been focused on nothing but football for the last several months that could lead to the 2018 Notre Dame linebacker commit having his best season yet for Cathedral Prep.
“I feel like I’ve improved in more than just one area,” the Erie, Pa., native said.
“Since I stepped away from baseball, I think I made a lot of improvements physically and mentally.”
Baseball was a big part of the 6-foot-3, 217-pounder’s life, but discussions with former Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder led him to drop it.
“Coach VanGorder definitely didn’t want me to play when he was there,” Bauer said. “Then, I started thinking, ‘Do I really want to do it?’ Then, I realized, ‘Nah, I don’t really enjoy that as much as football. I don’t want that to take away from my opportunities.’
“So, I was like, ‘Alright, I think it’s time to make the big decision not to play anymore.’ It was a great decision because now I feel like I’m much more prepared to play football, so hopefully the results show.”
So Bauer has spent the entire spring and summer working out for football.
“I put on like 20 pounds and kept my speed and my vertical and everything,” said Bauer, who recently did a five-foot box jump.
While part of Bauer’s decision surely had to do with his collegiate future being on the gridiron, he also walked away from baseball in order to have the best senior season possible with his high school football teammates.
“We’ve been practicing for a little while,” said Bauer, whose squad had beach workouts last week before this week’s heat acclimation period.
“I think it’s going pretty good. The offseason workouts have been going really well. I’m really proud of the guys.”
After a 14-0 state-championship season in 2016, the goals will be high, but Bauer is confident.
“I really like the team camaraderie,” he said. “We’re all really close and I feel like we’re getting even closer now. I’m just excited to get back out there and everybody have that same goal again.”
He knows he’ll have to deal with doubt from those on the outside, but won’t let that bother him.
“I try my best to stay humble,” said Bauer. “There are a lot of haters out there and people who are realizing they’re not going to play at the level in college they want and I’m dealing with a lot of that type of stuff now too.
“My goal is to stay focused on my goals and be with the people who want the best for me and not the others.”
Bauer plans to return to South Bend for the Irish’s game against Georgia next month.
“I’m pretty excited for that,” he said.
He’s looking forward to meeting up with new Irish linebacker Jack Lamb while he’s on campus that weekend.
“He texted me back and seems like a pretty cool guy. I feel like we’ll be able to push each other the whole time we’re there. We’re just going to make each other better.”