Rob Gronkowski
Template:Infobox CollegeFootballPlayer Rob Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989 in Template:City-state is an American college football player. He currently plays as a tight end for the Arizona Wildcats at the University of Arizona.
Early years
Gronkowski was born on May 14, 1989 in Template:City-state to parents Gordon and Diane Gronkowski.[1] His father owns a chain of fitness retailers and started for three years as an offensive guard at Syracuse. Rob has four brothers: Chris, who played football for two years at Maryland before transferring to Arizona to play baseball; Dan, who played as a tight end at Maryland; Gordie, Jr., who played baseball at Jacksonville University; and Glenn, who is currently attending high school.[2]
Rob Gronkowski was raised in Williamsville, New York near Buffalo and attended North High School for three years. He then moved to Pennsylvania, where he attended Woodland Hills High School as a senior.[1]
In high school, he played football as a tight end and basketball as a center. As a junior, he recorded 36 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns, and 73 tackles and six quarterback sacks on defense. He was named an All-Western New York first-team and All-State second-team player.[1]
As a senior in 2006, Gronkowski recorded eight receptions for 152 yards and four touchdowns. He was named a SuperPrep All-American, PrepStar All-American, Associated Press Class 4-A all-state, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first-team all-conference, Harrisburg Patriot-News "Platinum 33", and a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25" player.[1]
He was recruited by Arizona, Clemson, Louisville, Maryland, Ohio State, and Syracuse.[3]
College career
As a true freshman in 2007, Gronkowski recorded 28 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns. His 18.8 yards per reception average was the best on the team and his receiving yards were a then school record for a tight end. He was named a The Sporting News freshman All-American, Rivals.com named him a freshman All-American, The Sporting News freshman Pac-10, and All-Pac-10 honorable mention.[1]
Gronkowski missed the first three games of the 2008 season, but recorded 47 receptions for 672 yards and a team-best ten touchdowns. Five of his touchdowns were scored in his first two games. He was twice named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week, including for his performance in failed comeback bid against Oregon, where he caught 12 passes for 143 yards. He set the school tight end records for single-game, single-season, and career receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Gronkowski was named an Associated Press third-team All-American and All-Pac-10 first-team tight end.[1]
Prior to the 2009 season, he was named to the Lombardi Award watchlist for the most outstanding college football lineman or linebacker.[4] CBS Sports analyst Chad Reuter considers Gronkowski a top underclassman prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft if he chooses to forgo his senior year.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Player Bio: Rob Gronkowski, University of Arizona, retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Player Bio: Dan Gronkowski, University of Maryland, retrieved January 12, 2009.
- ^ Rob Gronkowski Profile, Scout.com, retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Gronkowski on Early National Radar, University of Arizona, March 2, 2009.
- ^ Chad Reuter, 2010 draft preview: Underclassmen factor, again, CBS Sports, April 27, 2009.
External links
- Gimino: Freshman 'beast' big new target for Tuitama, The Tucson Citizen, August 3, 2007.
- Up Close & Personal: Rob Gronkowski, Rivals.com, November 14, 2008.
- Know your Cat: TE Rob Gronkowski, The Tucson Citizen, September 7, 2007.
- Rob Gronkowski significant to 2007 season, Rivals.com, August 14, 2007.
- Gronkowski brothers have big day, The Buffalo News, September 21, 2008.