The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Milk does Stalnaker’s body good
John Carroll linebacker gained 30 pounds by drinking a gallon a day
When Chad Stalnaker was a kid he — like most — enjoyed a glass of milk.
As a college junior, the Lake Catholic graduate still enjoys milk, but that was put to the test in the last few months.
A glass of milk a day was replaced by a gallon of whole milk — a day. That’s correct, a day. That was coach Rick Finotti’s plan to get Stalnaker settled into his present position on the JCU football team. Stalnaker didn’t always follow through — “about a gallon every two days,” he said — but he was a young man on a mission.
That’s how Stalnaker transformed himself from a quarterback/safety in high school, then a cornerback/punter his first two years in college to a middle linebacker this season for JCU’s vaunted defense.
A switch from cornerback to middle linebacker might seem extreme for most players, but not in the case of Stalnaker. His high school coach Scott O’Donnell, an All-America defensive end at John Carroll in 1996, saw that defensive tenacity early during his days as a quarterback for the Cougars.
“When he was here, you knew defense was his spot,” said O’Donnell.
“He was an OK quarterback, but an unbelievable defensive player. He’s a dude, and he can play the game. He has an instinct on defense. He’s a physical, physical player. That’s why he was a player for us. He could get downhill for us.”
As a middle linebacker? O’Donnell never envisioned that for Stalnaker. Neither did the former coaching staff at John Carroll.
Three years ago when he was being recruited by former JCU recruiting coordinator Brian Cochran, a Lake grad, and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley of Perry, the coaches asked O’Donnell and Lake boys basketball coach Matt Moran if Stalnaker, who also played basketball at Lake, was quick enough and fast enough to play cornerback.
That’s the position they envisioned for Stalnaker, and he bought into that idea for a while. Then he arrived at JCU.
“I really don’t see myself as a corner,” Stalnaker said. “I don’t think I have the speed for it, but I was out there working every day trying to get better.”
He first discussed a position change to safety with his father, who then encouraged his son to suggest the idea to the coaching staff. It was a fit, but then Finotti
took it further.
By the summer of 2017, Stalnaker moved to JCU’s “viper” position, a hybrid safety/linebacker spot. Then, during 2018 spring drills, there was one last position switch, and the biggest of all — middle linebacker.
That switch came with a plan. The 6-foot Stalnaker played safety and the viper between 175 and 180 pounds. To play in the middle, he needed to gain weight, and a lot of it. His meal plans included plenty of chicken, rice and pasta. Also included in the plan was a tip Finotti learned from coach Jim Harbaugh during his two years to Michigan.
“Drink a gallon of whole milk every day,” Finotti said with a smile. “Pretty healthy.”
“I was like ‘Wow,’ “Stalnaker said. “... I’ll drink milk here and there, but not that much milk.”
Roommate and fellow Lake grad Connor Robinson — one of JCU’s starting cornerbacks — was 10 pounds heavier than Stalnaker a few months ago, and marveled at the way he attacked his weight-gaining mission.
“He took it by storm,” Robinson said. “Some of his eating habits were ridiculous. Gallon of whole milk a day? I was like, ‘Man, he’s committed.’ But you saw the change right away.”
The change occurred, but it wasn’t always enjoyable.
“There were times I was
like, ‘I don’t want to eat this.’ You’re just shoving it down,” Stalnaker said.
In a matter of months from last spring to midsummer, Stalnaker went from about 175 pounds to 205. Finotti and defensive coordinator Joe Schaefer had their middle linebacker for 2018, but it went beyond just the weight gain.
“Quite frankly, I connect with him,” Finotti said. “I know this is a guy who gets it. He understands football. He’s going to get into the film (work), he’ll do extra stuff in the weight room. When everyone else is at the beach in the summer, he’s going to get in the extra work.”
Stalnaker’s experience at quarterback in high school was vital to the switch, Finotti said.
“Totally, 100 percent,” the JCU coach said. “He’s our quarterback on defense.”
There are challenges playing the position at just 205 pounds. Mentor grad Todd Green was JCU’s starting middle linebacker in 2017, and he weighed about 220 pounds.
Against No. 1-ranked Mount Union earlier in the season — a game won by the Purple Raiders, 2310 — Stalnaker had to contend with offensive linemen who weighed an average of 276 pounds.
“It’s a challenge in the run game being the size I am, but I just try to be tough on every play,” said Stalnaker, who’s among
the team leaders in tackles with 19, and has two sacks and an interception. “It’s a challenge but it’s nothing I can’t take on.
“Watching film is huge. I’m learning new things every day. How to take on blocks, how to shed blocks, reading the keys, how much the (defensive) linemen can tell you on every play.”
Stalnaker raves about the Blue Streaks’ defensive line, which he said takes away a lot of the stress of his job. It features the likes of standouts Conner Bogard of Benedictine, Ray Brown, Tyler Frederick, Jimmy Thomas and Adam Thompson.
“I honestly couldn’t do it without them,” Stalnaker said. “One of the best D-line I’ve ever seen. Probably the best in the country.”
It’s not just the line that fuels JCU on defense. The entire unit is solid. It ranks No. 1 in the nation in Division III in sacks with 28. The defense is 14th in scoring defense (10.2), and 16th in yards allowed (238.6). Some, though, could argue a defense is only as good as the player in the middle of it all.
“He was a really good leader (as QB at Lake), and that’s stuck with him because he’s the leader of our defense,” Robinson said of Stalnaker. “We trust him. He’s pretty much calling the shots from middle linebacker. I think that leadership has really translated well.”