Bowling Green State University Athletics
Gates Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List
August 02, 2012 | Football
Booboo Gates, a member of the Bowling Green State University football team, was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List this morning (Aug. 2). The award is given to the nation's most versatile player in college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung.
The 2012 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2011 statistics, career performance and expectations heading into the 2012 season.
It would be hard to find a more versatile player in all of college football than Gates. In 2011, in his first year as a starter, Gates finished the season second on the team with 73 tackles from his rover position. He added a team-high two interceptions, added two tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. As impressive as that was, he may have been even better as a kick returner.
Gates earned second-team All-MAC honors as a kick returner in 2011, finishing the year with 38 returns for 981 yards and a touchdown. His yardage total was the highest single season in BGSU history. Gates added an 88-yard touchdown return versus arch-rival Toledo and had a school record 233 return yards versus West Virginia, including a 77-yard return.
As 2012 begins, Gates is now expected to become even more versatile than last season. The junior will start 2012 at safety, a new position for him. He is also expected to remain the team's kick returner, while also seeing major action on all phases of special teams.
Gates and the Falcons open the season on Sept. 1 at Florida.
The 2012 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2011 statistics, career performance and expectations heading into the 2012 season.
It would be hard to find a more versatile player in all of college football than Gates. In 2011, in his first year as a starter, Gates finished the season second on the team with 73 tackles from his rover position. He added a team-high two interceptions, added two tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. As impressive as that was, he may have been even better as a kick returner.
Gates earned second-team All-MAC honors as a kick returner in 2011, finishing the year with 38 returns for 981 yards and a touchdown. His yardage total was the highest single season in BGSU history. Gates added an 88-yard touchdown return versus arch-rival Toledo and had a school record 233 return yards versus West Virginia, including a 77-yard return.
As 2012 begins, Gates is now expected to become even more versatile than last season. The junior will start 2012 at safety, a new position for him. He is also expected to remain the team's kick returner, while also seeing major action on all phases of special teams.
Gates and the Falcons open the season on Sept. 1 at Florida.
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