As his career winds down, Charlotte 49ers’ Jeff Gemmell can make program history

Jeff Gemmell remembers sitting in a meeting in the Charlotte 49ers’ weight room in 2015. He was surrounded by about 20 other freshmen, each eager to get their college careers started at a program that, at that time, was just entering its third season of existence.

“The coach looked at us and said, ‘Look around this room, because there’s probably only going to be about five or six of you still here when you graduate,’ ” Gemmell said. “He was right.”

It is a memory that sticks with Gemmell as he reflects on a career that’s entering its home stretch, beginning with a game for the 49ers (3-5, 1-3 Conference USA) on Saturday against Middle Tennessee (3-5, 2-2) at Richardson Stadium.

Now a senior middle linebacker and one of those few surviving members of the Class of ’15 (also still around are fellow fifth-year seniors defensive ends Tyriq Harris and Alex Highsmith, offensive tackle Cam Clark, defensive tackle Tommy Doctor and defensive back Nafees Lyon), Gemmell is on track to become the 49ers’ career leader in tackles.

“I’ve seen a little bit of everything,” said Gemmell, whose 262 tackles trail only Karrington King (267) and current teammate Ben DeLuca (265). “I’ve had a lot of different experiences.”

Unfortunately for Gemmell, those experiences don’t include many victories. The 49ers have never had a winning season, and included in Gemmell’s tenure was a 1-11 slog in 2017.

“I knew that was probably going to be the situation when I came here,” Gemmell said. “But I wanted to see the program grow to what’s becoming today. We’ve had glimpses of what it’s like to win. But I’ve seen progress and it’s going to be pretty cool to look back on. But while you’re in it, it’s a grind and all you see are bits and pieces.”

As his tackle stats attest, Gemmell has been a constant bright spot on teams that have not always been competitive as the 49ers have grown accustomed to playing on the Football Bowl Subdivision level. Gemmell was a third-team all conference choice as a junior. His 42 tackles this season come despite missing one game and portions of two others with an ankle injury. He had 12 tackles in a 39-38 victory against North Texas last week.

“Jeff is so smart, he’s so self conscious about getting everything right,” said first-year 49ers coach Will Healy. “If he misses an assignment, he beats himself up. He gets everybody lined up, getting all our fits right. We see a tremendous drop when he’s not in the game.”

Injuries haven’t been the only health issues Gemmell has faced. He had a bout of pancreatitis last summer that laid him up for a few days. Gemmell also learned recently that he’s lactose intolerant, so finding a suitable diet has been an adjustment.

“That’s been difficult,” Gemmell said. “You can’t really can’t talk about it, because nobody cares. They want you to see you perform. So I’ve had to fight through that adversity.”

Gemmell wasn’t highly recruited as a tight end and linebacker coming out of Heritage High in the Raleigh suburb of Wake Forest. Although he received offers from Army and Football Championship Subdivision programs Richmond and Gardner-Webb, he had somewhere else in mind.

And it wasn’t Charlotte — at least not at first.

“I wanted to play in the ACC, and I had a few preferred walk-on offers from places like N.C. State and Wake Forest,” he said. “When I came to Charlotte for my visit, I walked out on the field, but I didn’t think I would play here. I thought it looked nice, but I wanted to play in the ACC.”

The 49ers, under former coach Brad Lambert, persisted. Charlotte was the only school that recruited Gemmell as a linebacker, the position he wanted to play in college.

That, along with the prospect of a full scholarship, swung Gemmell to Charlotte. In five seasons, Gemmell has played for two head coaches and three defensive coordinators. Teammates have come and gone. There have been victories, but many more losses.

He will graduate in December with an accounting degree. He’s getting married next spring and hopes to get a shot at making an NFL roster. If that falls through, he’s lined up an internship at a Charlotte accounting firm next summer.

For now, there are six more tackles to make and he goes into the 49ers record book.

“I can’t complain,” Gemmell said, looking back out at the field in Richardson Stadium. “I’ve had a good time.”

Middle Tennessee at Charlotte

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Richardson Stadium

Watch: ESPN3

Listen: 730-AM