It all pans out nicely for Barrington's Handler

Gus Handler took an old-school route to his new school.

Most Division I schools look to have their wish lists completed long before the day to sign letters of intent arrives.

And high school players without numerous scholarship offers are frequently left scrambling for anything even if they have phenomenal senior seasons.

Handler, a Daily Herald All-Area offensive lineman from Barrington, was an exception. An increase in size and strength to 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, combined with a high level of play led to bigger and better options.

Handler reaped those rewards Wednesday when high school senior football players across the country could make their college choices official.

He signed with Colorado as part of the biggest class of Division I and II signees in Barrington football history.

Handler was joined by running back Sam Ojuri (North Dakota State), quarterback Cody Seeger and linebacker Cam Good (Drake), linebacker Alex Smith (Central Michigan), defensive back Jason Taylor (Colgate) and linebacker Jason Bromm (Bemidji State).

Fellow offensive lineman Trevor Laue has already enrolled at Arizona as a preferred walk-on.

"It was really exciting," Handler said Wednesday night. "To know all the hard work I put in and hours of practice and weightlifting and mental preparation paid off."

Adding to the excitement was Barrington head coach Joe Sanchez calling Handler the traditional senior recruit whose final-year performance mattered.

"That's what makes this whole thing with Gus kind of really rewarding in a lot of ways," Sanchez said. "It goes back to the adage that you can work and things will work out if you do things the right way."

It's not as if Handler was a giant unknown as Sanchez said a lot of schools were impressed during the May evaluation period of his junior year. But he was considered a bit of a "tweener," which had schools wondering just where and if he would fit into their offensive lines.

Air Force and Wyoming made early offers but others wanted to wait and see how he played as a senior. That can be a precarious position which leaves players with less than what they hoped.

Handler went to work in the offseason with Mike Gattone, who is USA Weightlifting's Director of High Performance and Coaching Education.

"This year I really proved I could gain 35 pounds and not lose a step," Handler said.

"By the middle of the year he just shot out there," Sanchez said. "It was crazy."

Colorado was the first one in with an offer. Purdue, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech followed. Big-time programs from big-time conferences who projected Handler as a center or guard.

But all of the increased attention didn't alter Handler's goal of helping Barrington return to the playoffs.

"I played my game and my whole mindset was if nothing happens for football, I could probably play baseball," said Handler, a power-hitting outfielder for the Broncos. "I basically played my game and did what I had to do."

Which led to a slightly different recruiting twist.

"What all the schools kept on saying is, 'Why is this kid still out there?'" Sanchez said. "'Is there something we're missing, because a kid this good usually isn't available.'"

There were no classroom issues with a 3.4 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and a 24 on the ACT. Barrington coaches have high regard for Handler's leadership abilities.

So, Handler ultimately found everything he wanted at Colorado from coach Dan Hawkins and his staff, to the football facilities and the academic environment in Boulder.

"It felt like a second home," said Handler, who plans to study business or journalism.

And Handler said Colorado wants him to come in and compete right away for playing time.

He's already proved the Buffaloes are getting more than a pretty competitive kid.

"They're getting a great kid," Sanchez said.

Swedlund, Pischak sign: Hoffman Estates all-area wide receiver-defensive back Mike Swedlund signed with Division II Bemidji State.

Buffalo Grove defensive lineman John Pischak signed with Division II Missouri University of Science and Technology.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com