St. Pius has moved away from their flexbone option-based system this season, and several juniors have emerged, becoming reliable receivers in the newfound offense. One of those juniors is Day Gist, a 6’4″, 235-lb. tight end prospect who has shown excellent hands.
Those digits were put to the test last Friday against Cambridge. Gist popped out of his stance, releasing upfield in a hurry, putting pressure on the defensive secondary. The ball was thrown deep; Gist turned around the 10-yard line, jumped, making an acrobatic leaping catch as he gracefully fell to the 5-yard line.
The great catch earned the junior a spot on the Sunday night top 10 plays of the week, and 24 hours later, he was voted the #2 play in the state of Georgia.
“I would say that I am having a great season,” Gist said. “Our team has faced a bunch of adversity this year, and it has come down to the leaders, like me, on the team to balance it out. We have had 7 new coaches and a whole new playbook. This season so far has been a roller coaster.”
Gist has made the most of his opportunities. Even when he doesn’t get a target, the junior has used his experience as a blocker to have an impact.
“Every game I block my butt off; some games I have catches and some games I don’t. Including the scrimmage at the beginning of the season, I have 5 catches and a TD. I don’t know the exact yardage, but I’m averaging about 30 yards per catch,” he said.
The transition year has been bumpy at times. The program is 3-5 this season with several tough losses, including last week’s 17-13 loss to Cambridge. The offensive turnover has been inconsistent, but the junior tight end has stayed positive through the process.
“No matter what though I say my best attribute and what I contribute the most to the team is my blocking in the run scheme especially coming from a triple option background. Although the targets may not seem to be there, which is very frustrating at times, knowing that the work I have put in does not reflect my official stat line, I still take advantage of every chance I get.”
He took advantage of it last week with that great twisting-leaping catch. As mentioned earlier, Gist looked good releasing upfield, which route running has been an area of emphasis.
“My routes have exponentially improved since last season as I have gotten faster and more fluid. Additionally, my ability to get off the line of scrimmage and finish a block is what makes me such a standout tight end. I believe that my preparation during the offseason allowed me to become not just a blocking tight end but a great overall tight end,” he said.
Colleges see the potential in Gist, who is a strong student with a 3.9 GPA. Programs like Georgia Tech, Harvard, Davidson, Georgia, and Florida have taken an interest, among others. He took visits to Georgia Tech, Georgia, and Davidson this fall, with more visits in store.
“I plan to go to Florida, Cornell, and Georgia Tech again soon. I am continuing to find open spots in my schedule to fit in any other schools that I have gotten invites from,” he said.
With just two regular season games left, we asked Gist how he would like to finish off the 2026 season.
“My goal for the remainder of the season is to continue to take advantage of the opportunities I get in the pass game and try to exploit that in gaining as many yards as I can before the season is up. I want to continue to get pancakes and highlight blocks. Lastly, we are in a tough spot right now for playoff contention, and I want to help my team in any shape or form to get to the playoffs this year.”
While the playoff picture seems uncertain, even by traditional standings, Gist and St. Pius have grown this year. They’ve endured bumps and bruises transitioning to a more balanced, open offense, which will pay dividends down the road, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia to see the latest on Gist, who said he wants to make the top 10 again in Week 11, and plenty more athletes across the state of Georgia.
