| April 24, 2005 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 08:32 AM |
Lionel Gates
Running Back
Louisville
Gates sacrificed personal success for that of the team during his career at Louisville. Has the ability to start for most college teams, but performed capably for the Cardinals while sharing time with Henry Miller, Eric Shelton and Michael Bush in his four seasons at the school. He is the cousin of former Clemson Tigers and Cleveland Browns linebacker Rahim Abdullah.
The Terry Parker High product gained 1,000 yards in each of his last three prep seasons, including 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior. He helped Parker to an appearance in the Florida state playoffs as a senior and was named to the Florida Times-Union Super 24 and All-First Coast teams. He was also selected 2000 Jacksonville Quarterback Club Player of the Year. Prior to his senior campaign, Gates rushed for 1,350 yards with 14 touchdowns as a junior and 1,200 yards during his sophomore campaign. He was twice chosen to the All-Northeast Florida second team and was named one of the top seniors in the state of Florida by FoxSports.com. The four-year letterman and three-year starter on the football team also earned four letters in track.
Gates redshirted in 2000 and saw limited action with the Cardinals in 2001 due to tonsillitis and a shoulder injury. He started the first two games of the 2002 campaign, but was not used much the rest of the year, finishing with 209 yards and a score on 72 attempts (2.9 avg.). Despite working in a shuttle system with Shelton and Bush, he led the squad with 141 carries for 817 yards (5.8 avg.) and 11 touchdowns, adding another 368 yards on 25 catches in 2003.
As a senior, he again shared the rushing load, but was sidelined twice by injuries. He sat out the North Carolina game with a hamstring pull and missed the final two regular-season contests against Cincinnati and Tulane after suffering a knee sprain against Houston. Gates still finished third on the squad with 76 carries for 373 yards (4.9 avg.) and seven touchdowns. He added 71 yards and two scores on 10 receptions, and had 92 yards on six kickoff returns (15.3 avg.) while gaining 536 all-purpose yards in nine contests.
Gates finished his career with 310 carries for 1,475 yards (4.8 avg.) and 20 touchdowns. Gates also caught 40 passes for 469 yards (11.7 avg.) and a pair of scores, while tacking on 92 yards on six kickoff returns. In 36 games, he started eight times, amassing 2,036 all-purpose yards.
Positives: Physically tough, with good upper-body development, thick lower legs and developed calves and thighs … Fluid runner who can change direction quickly due to his hip flexibility … Lacks true deep speed, but compensates with good feet and lateral agility … He has enough outside speed and shake to make a cut and find open field in the secondary … Displays good hands out of the backfield to catch and get upfield with the ball … Does a good job of anticipating coverages and gets his shoulders square to gain some production running up the middle … His pass protection is adequate, as he will cut, showing enough ability to sit in the inside gaps and look for work … Shows good patience as a runner and a feel for the cutback lane … Runs with the ball properly secured and does not have a fumbling issue … Has enough juke and hip swerve to defeat linebackers as a receiver in the short area … Effective blocker who shows good aggression when picking up the blitz.
Negatives: Has good size, but lacks the brute strength to be a punishing runner up the middle of the field … Has good leg drive and quickness turning the corner, but is more of a one-speed runner who can be chased down … Runs a little too high to defeat arm tackles when taking the ball up the gut and must learn to run at a lower pad level … Will take some unnecessary shots because of his high stance and fails to lift his knees properly to combat ankle tackles … At times he will get blinded and take what the defense gives him … Not to be considered a "lower-the-boom" guy who will attack defenders as a runner, rather relying on a juke and sudden explosion to break free … Likes to finesse defenders rather than punish them when running with the ball in a crowd (more of a bounder) … Lacks the explosive second gear to take the ball to the house once he is in the open.
2001 -- Missed the final six games of the season after suffering a left shoulder sprain against Southern Mississippi (10/16) … Also bothered most of the year by tonsillitis.
2004 -- Sat out the North Carolina with a hamstring pull … Did not play against Cincinnati and Tulane after spraining his knee against Houston (11/20).
Campus: 4.55 in the 40-yard dash … 435-pound bench press … 575-pound squat … 318-pound power clean … 37-inch vertical jump … Right-handed … Combine: 4.7 in the 40-yard dash … 2.78 20-yard dash … 1.72 10-yard dash … 4.10 20-yard shuttle … 7.17 three-cone drill … 36-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-1 broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times … 31 1/8-inch arm length … 10 1/8-inch hands.
Attended Terry Parker (Jacksonville, Fla.) High School, playing football for coach David Boland … Gained 1,000 yards in each of his last three prep seasons, including 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior … Helped Parker High to an appearance in the Florida state playoffs as a senior and was named to the Florida Times-Union Super 24 and All-First Coast teams … Also selected 2000 Jacksonville Quarterback Club Player of the Year … Prior to his senior campaign, Gates rushed for 1,350 yards with 14 touchdowns as a junior and 1,200 yards during his sophomore campaign … Twice chosen to the All-Northeast Florida second team and was named one of the top seniors in the state of Florida by FoxSports.com … The four-year letterman and three-year starter on the football team also earned four letters in track.
Communications major … Born Lionel Theron Gates on March 13, 1982 … Resides in Jacksonville, Fla.
