Wartburg’s Tranel brings ‘special’ talent to defense

WAVERLY - He was special as a special-teams player. As a linebacker, Gunner Tranel has been outstanding, if not special.

The junior from Vinton-Shellsburg leads Wartburg in tackles and ranks third in the Iowa Conference, one behind the co-leaders. The Knights (5-0), ranked sixth nationally in NCAA Division III, host Dubuque for homecoming Saturday.

You wouldn't know this is his first go-around as a defensive starter.

'Gunner has done a great job,” Wartburg Coach Rick Willis said. 'He had big shoes to fill with the graduation of Ryan Billings, who was a (two-time) all-conference player. This was his first opportunity to be an every down player … He's doing a phenomenal job.”

Tranel was Wartburg's special team's player of the year in 2013, so you knew he had some talent. But moving into a starter's role defensively for the first time, especially at a prominent position like middle linebacker, was a test.

He has passed with flying colors.

'It has been a lot of fun,” Tranel said. 'We've got a defense that is very dynamic and always has guys running around. Ryan Billings taught me a lot last year. He was a very vocal kind of guy, our captain. He really motivated guys. That's not really my biggest thing.”

Still, Tranel knows he has to bring some of that vocal leadership.

'I look at middle linebacker as being the quarterback of the defense,” he said. 'You've got to make sure the defensive linemen are lined up properly. But the defensive backs help with that, too. Our guys on defense are so smart. We are a real close group. (Defensive coordinator) Coach (Travis) Winter always preaches to us about pursuit to the ball and always play the next play, no matter what happened (the previous play).”

'It's not necessarily just the physical aspects, but we ask our middle linebackers to do a lot of things,” Willis said. 'Like taking command of the defense. Gunner hadn't been asked to do that previously, but he's done a great job.”

Wartburg has done a great job, winning all five of its games handily, including an impressive 40-0 IIAC blowout last week of Coe. The Knights lead the league in most of the major team categories, including total defense and scoring defense.

Those numbers are 237 yards and nine points per game, respectively. Halfway through the season, this appears to be one of the strongest teams Willis has had in his successful career at the school.

'We have played very well the first half of the season,” Willis said. 'We believe this is one of those teams that has a high ceiling. But we have to continue to improve.”

Tranel appreciates the winning. He didn't do very much of it in high school.

'It has been awesome,” he said. 'That's one of the key points they give you when you are getting recruited. The tradition here is so strong. It's crazy.”

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