Mike Gardier

Gardier played on the Dunmore teams that reached the District 2 Class AA finals in 2003 and 2004. He was 5-foot-8 and about 150 pounds. Mansfield started him as a freshman in 2005. When that program dropped football, he went to Kutztown, made the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference all-star team, finished with 199 career tackles, and played in the All-American Bowl college all-star game.

The NFL did not call after the East Preps Pro Combine. In January 2011, at 24, he had signed with the Berlin Adler to play defensive back and assist the coach, Dave Likins, who had coached him at Mansfield. He was to be the only American-born player on the team. The deal paid a salary and covered the flight, housing, and transportation. The German season ran from April into late September.