2026 Getting to know Anthony Pernotto from Gahanna Lincoln

 Name: Anthony Pernotto

School/town: Gahanna Lincoln High School

Positions played: DE/IOL

Class:2027

Height and Weight: 5”11 265Lb

Jersey Number:58

Awards won or earned:

HUDL LINK:N/A

Other sports played: baseball

Please post a small recap of last season with something like a big game you had, something about a certain game, something from a bus ride to or from the game, or something that sticks out from a practice.

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With this coming season your final high school football once you are done with travel baseball, will you prepare for the season any differently than you have in the past?

I wouldn’t say I’m going to attack this year any differently, but I know a lot of our 2027s including myself feel we have something to prove following our upset loss last year against Groveport Madison and falling short once again, so there are a lot of chips on shoulders for this upcoming season so it should be pretty entertaining to watch this season 

What are you looking forward to the most this season?

I’m looking forward to holding up some trophies at the end of the year with my seniors and the guys I’ve been playing with since we were little and having that one last ride with all the brothers and boys who were there at the start


What makes you a good teammate?

I think the energy I bring to all the practices and how I hold people accountable to try and not only make that person a better player but person and showing the teammates around me by leading by example 


Do you feel you are better on the offensive or defensive line?

Offense is probably where most of my confidence is at just because the O-line is where I started and I kind of slowly transitioned into a two-way player


Which side of the line is the tougher of the two, to prepare for?

I would definitely say offense both are challenging but when u have to know the other teams blitz’s and know certain player’s tendencies rather just having to know key run plays and how big the O-line is like I'd do on the defensive side

Every defensive lineman has a go-to move. What is your?

I think my go-to move is lining up is a wide 5 and hitting a chop spin move making the lineman have to completely change his track from outside to in and a lot of ppl I’ve tried it against have a hard time defending it

In the times I have watched you play live or on TV you play with a tamed aggression as I call it. How do you keep from completing going berserk on the field and doing something that could get you in trouble with the ref?

I think it’s just having that “Ok scratch it move on” kind of mentality I mean not everything will go your way and everyone knows that but to me playing with a “tamed aggression” helps me not only stay in the game and keep me locked in, but it also helps my teammates when we’re in a situation, and they see me not overwhelmed and cussing but relaxed and I feel they feed off that


How do you feel you have grown as a player and leader since your first start?

I think I've become a lot more vocal and gained a lot more confidence which would definitely not be possible without the seniors and upperclassmen before me but those 2 are definitely my biggest improvements

Baseball or football, what's been your biggest moment?

I think my biggest high school sports moment is hitting the go ahead three run home run against New Albany to win us that game

As a lineman do you want to be on offense or defense when the game is on the line?

I’m in my opinion I would definitely wanna be on the offensive side because I’m more of a leader on that side, and I’m more confident on that side of the ball

What is something you would like to do in a game, but might never have the chance?

I think as a O-lineman, everyone can say scoring a touchdown, but I don’t think that will ever happen.


If you earn an invitation to play in any of the all-star games after the season, will you play?

Yeah, I think I’ll play. I think getting an invitation to the All-Star games is definitely how I would want to end my football career so if I ever had an invitation, I would definitely accept it.

What team goals are you setting this year?

Our team goals are really high this year. A lot of the guys are really eager to get out on the field and play after having a super rough year last year, so I really think an undefeated season would be our number one goal by getting back at pick north and pick Central at a close #1 as well

You have to give a speech in front of your class. What topic is your speech on?

I would probably just keep my speech basic and keep it about sports

Did you watch any of the UFL games?

I have not watched any of the UFL games, but I’ve definitely heard about them

What is your go-to snack?

I’m not a big go to snack guy, but if I had to pick something like that, I was just gonna eat in the car. I would definitely go with some like small caramel rice cakes, and some type of Gatorade.