Joey Gerlach
LB · Graduate
6'3" · 225 lbs · Defense
Also wearing #19: Pierce Walsh (TE)
Background
- Hometown
- Woodbury, Minn.
- High school
- Woodbury
Recruiting
- Rating
- 3-star (0.8478 247 composite)
- National rank
- #1341
- Class
- 2022
- Source
- 247 composite
2026 season
defensive
Season by season
2025tap to read
Competed in nine games and made 11 tackles. Game-by-Game: Made one tackle against Buffalo • led Minnesota with five tackles against Northwestern State • saw action at Cal • started against Rutgers • registered one tackle at Ohio State • made one tackle against Purdue • played versus Nebraska • finished with three tackles at Iowa • played against Michigan State • missed the final four games of the season with an injury.
2024tap to read
Played in all 13 games and made 15 tackles. Game-by-Game: Made one tackle against North Carolina • tallied one tackle against Rhode Island • notched one tackle against Nevada • saw action against Iowa • played at Michigan and against USC • notched four tackles at UCLA • had two tackles against Maryland • made two tackles at Illinois • competed at Rutgers • played against Penn State • totaled two tackles at Wisconsin • had two tackles against Virginia Tech.
2023tap to read
• FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games, seeing most of his action on special teams • made one tackle. Game-by-Game: Made his Minnesota debut against Nebraska • saw action against Eastern Michigan and at North Carolina • competed at Northwestern and against Louisiana • saw action against Michigan and at Iowa • played against Michigan State • played against Illinois and at Purdue • competed at Ohio State and against Wisconsin • made one tackle against Bowling Green.
2022tap to read
Redshirted • did not see game action. HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minn. • wore No. 6 for the Royals • as a senior, made 76 tackles, three tackles for loss, broke up 11 passes, forced three fumbles and made two interceptions • played on the South team in the Minnesota Football Showcase • as a junior, carded 35 tackles, one sack, made three interceptions and returned one for a touchdown • coached by Andy Hill • three-star recruit • ESPN listed him as the No. 7 prospect in Minnesota. PERSONAL: Son of Adam and Bryanna Gerlach • has two siblings (Gabby and Beau) • father, Adam, played college hockey at Minnesota State • uncles, Bobby Grandas (tight end) and Brody Grandas (defensive back), played college football at Minnesota in the 2000s • aunt, Bridget Grandas, played college soccer at Iowa State.
Official bio
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HONORS:
Academic All-Big Ten (2025, 2024, 2023)
CSC Academic All-District (2024, 2023)
2025 • JUNIOR SEASON: Competed in nine games and made 11 tackles.
Game-by-Game: Made one tackle against Buffalo • led Minnesota with five tackles against Northwestern State • saw action at Cal • started against Rutgers • registered one tackle at Ohio State • made one tackle against Purdue • played versus Nebraska • finished with three tackles at Iowa • played against Michigan State • missed the final four games of the season with an injury.
2024 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played in all 13 games and made 15 tackles.
Game-by-Game: Made one tackle against North Carolina • tallied one tackle against Rhode Island • notched one tackle against Nevada • saw action against Iowa • played at Michigan and against USC • notched four tackles at UCLA • had two tackles against Maryland • made two tackles at Illinois • competed at Rutgers • played against Penn State • totaled two tackles at Wisconsin • had two tackles against Virginia Tech.
2023: •
FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games, seeing most of his action on special teams • made one tackle.
Game-by-Game: Made his Minnesota debut against Nebraska • saw action against Eastern Michigan and at North Carolina • competed at Northwestern and against Louisiana • saw action against Michigan and at Iowa • played against Michigan State • played against Illinois and at Purdue • competed at Ohio State and against Wisconsin • made one tackle against Bowling Green.
2022: Redshirted • did not see game action.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minn. • wore No. 6 for the Royals • as a senior, made 76 tackles, three tackles for loss, broke up 11 passes, forced three fumbles and made two interceptions • played on the South team in the Minnesota Football Showcase • as a junior, carded 35 tackles, one sack, made three interceptions and returned one for a touchdown • coached by Andy Hill • three-star recruit • ESPN listed him as the No. 7 prospect in Minnesota.
PERSONAL: Son of Adam and Bryanna Gerlach • has two siblings (Gabby and Beau) • father, Adam, played college hockey at Minnesota State • uncles, Bobby Grandas (tight end) and Brody Grandas (defensive back), played college football at Minnesota in the 2000s • aunt, Bridget Grandas, played college soccer at Iowa State.