Tuttle High School senior lineman Gunner Goddard brings the same intensity to the football field that he carries into the agricultural arena, balancing life as a varsity starter and active FFA member. As the Tigers gear up for the fall, Goddard is a key piece in the trenches, where his physical style of play and blue-collar mindset help set the tone for the program.
“I play left guard on offense and nose guard on defense. Summer workouts have been going great! We’ve been putting in a lot of work and its starting to show!” Goddard said.
That work ethic has helped shape his view of what it takes to succeed in high school athletics. “I’ve learned a lot of lessons but one that sticks out to me is that nothing is given freely, it’s all earned in the weight-room, classroom, and on the field,” he said.
Goddard carries that same mentality into FFA, where he has been active since middle school. “In FFA I’m involved in Livestock Judging, Showing and Ag Mechanics. I first joined FFA back in 8th grade,” he said. The organization has become more than an extracurricular for him; it is a pathway toward his future. “FFA is special to me because it’s my passion to work in the Livestock and agricultural industry when I start my career,” Goddard said.
Family plays a central role in his drive and direction. “Definitely my parents [David and Mindi] inspire me. The amount of work and support that they show me truly inspires me to be like them one day,” he said. He also points to a former teammate who helped shape his standards on the field. “My former teammate Eli Clark left an impression of hard work and responsibility which led him to be a great football player,” Goddard said.
Looking ahead, Goddard hopes to extend both of his passions at the next level. “After I graduate, I would like to attend college with either a livestock judging or football scholarship and study animal science and ag finance,” he said.
Away from football and FFA, he enjoys spending time with his siblings Julie, Gabrielle and Camille, rounding out a busy schedule driven by faith, family and a relentless commitment to hard work.
