By: Chris Harlan
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 10:40 AM
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Central Catholic’s Colsen Gatten intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Colsen Gatten’s highlight video starts with a pick-six followed by a nifty one-handed interception a couple of clips later.
Yet neither was his favorite play.
“It’s definitely my big hit against Canon-Mac,” said the Central Catholic linebacker, who punished a receiver on a crossing route in that one. “That was a pretty good hit. I think it got the crowd going. Got the momentum and energy going, too.
“That was a good one.”
The senior’s six-minute video captures the versatility that made him one of the WPIAL’s top defenders and earned him a football scholarship to Duke. A strong tackler with good hands, the Central Catholic roster lists him at a solid 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds.
But there’s another factor: He’s fast.
Gatten has surprising speed for his size, inherited as the son of a state champion sprinter. His father, Aaron, was a Wash High star who played linebacker at Penn State.
“Colsen can flat-out run,” said Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier, describing Gatten as a sideline-to-sideline tackler. “He’s going to go 4.5 (seconds) in the 40. For someone with his size and length, he can fly.”
His opponents know that’s true.
A year ago, Gatten made 51 tackles with six tackles for a loss, forced three fumbles, intercepted three passes and scored one defensive touchdown — his 30-yard pick six against rival North Allegheny.
He helped Central Catholic win a WPIAL title and reach the state finals. Coaches voted him first-team all-conference in Class 6A. He played a lot of outside linebacker last season but will also see snaps on the inside this year.
That’s an idea he likes because it’ll show his grit.
“There are a lot of big hits on my film,” Gatten said. “Just being able to play inside will be super fun. Honestly, it’ll give me an opportunity to make more plays.”
Rated by Rivals.com as a top 20 recruit in the state, Gatten received more than two dozen college offers. He committed last month to Duke, lured to Durham, N.C., by “the best combination of football and academics.”
His recruiting path to get there was long.
Gatten got his first offer in June 2023, shortly after his freshman year ended. After compiling more than two dozen offers, he said committing to the Blue Devils was a good feeling.
“Even better knowing that I really enjoy that school and I belong there,” Gatten said. “I can play my senior year free knowing I’m committed.”
Duke is getting a linebacker with big-play ability, which his Central Catholic coaches have already seen. Lehmeier recalled some of Gatten’s top plays from memory without the help of his highlight video.
Along with the pick-six and the one-handed grab, Lehmeier described an interception in the end zone in the state playoffs.
“He was able to retrace on a throw-back to a tight end and make an unbelievable play on the ball,” Lehmeier said. “I close my eyes, and I see him making plays. I hope there are a lot more to be made this year.”
Colsen Gatten
Central Catholic
6-foot-2, 210 pounds
LB/TE
Stars: 3
Committed to: Duke
Division I offers: Arizona, Boston College, California, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pitt, Sacramento State, SMU, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Highlights: Hudl
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Central Catholic