Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Big Joe Gaitlin with some of his teammates at Tuesday’s letter signing ceremony.

By Ray Hamill — McKinleyville senior Joe Gatlin paid tribute to his coaches and his mother for helping him on his journey before announcing where he will be taking his talents after graduation this year.

The Panthers lineman, who is known fondly as “Big Joe,” signed his letter of intent to play football at Mount Mercy University in Iowa in front of friends, teammates, family and coaches at McKinleyville High School on Tuesday night.

He will join a newly formed Mustangs program that will begin competing at the NAIA Division-I level in the fall of 2026.

An emotional Gatlin described the occasion as a “very special day for me.”

“Signing this letter is a dream come true, but I know I didn’t get here alone,” he said. “It took dedication, sacrifice and most importantly the support of some incredible people.”

Gatlin thanked his mother, Niki Moore, who raised him on her own after his father Billy passed away when Big Joe was just 8-years-old.

“First and foremost I want to thank my mom,” he said. “You have been my rock through every late night and early morning.

“The heartbreak of losing my dad was something we all struggled with, but through the pain you pushed me to give my best. Your love and encouragement has been the foundation of everything I have achieved, and I would not be here without you. You made countless sacrifices to help me chase my dream.”

Gatlin took up football nine years ago at his mother’s encouragement shortly after his father passed.

And he acknowledged he has come a long way since then.

“You started me in football when I was 8-years-old and now look at me,” he said. “I’m going to go play college at the next level. I hope today will make you proud. I love you more than words can say.”

The standout lineman, who was an all-league honorable mention this past fall, also thanked his coaches for helping him on his journey, including longtime McKinleyville youth football coach Dale Cash.

“To all my coaches here, thank you for helping me become the player I am today, and the lessons you taught me will stay with me forever,” he said. “To everyone else, my family, coaches, teammates and everyone else who has supported me, I am beyond thankful.”

Gatlin says he chose Mount Mercy, a private Catholic university in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in large part because of head coach MD Daniels, who was named the new team’s coach in January of this year.

“I chose Mount Mercy because of coach Daniels,” Gatlin said. “He reached out to me and he reviewed my film. We kept in communication and throughout multiple phone calls, I grew to love him and the program over at Mount Mercy that he’s growing.”

The McKinleyville senior received an academic and athletic scholarship to play for the Mustangs, who clearly rate him highly.

Coach Daniels watched and listened to the letter signing ceremony on video call.

Big Joe Gatlin and his mother Niki Moore.

As for his time at McKinleyville High School, the 3.7 GPA student-athlete says he will carry a lot of great memories with him when he makes the move to Iowa.

“Playing here, it’s grown memories that will never get out of my head,” said Gatlin, who also competed in track and field for three years of high school. “The people that are here, the coaches that have coached me, will stick me.

“And the academics here are pretty good. I love all the teachers I have.”

Gatlin will travel to Mount Mercy for an official visit during spring break and he says he is looking forward to the opportunity to play football at the next level.

“This journey is far from over,” he said. “I cannot wait to see where it leads.”

Gatlin wants to major in Sports Management.