From the hardwood to the gridiron

Football Digest, Dec, 2004 by Barry Wilner

ANTONIO GATES DIDN'T? TAKE the basic route to the NFL. He s no college phenom out of Miami like Kellen Winslow or Jeremy Shockey. He's no former wideout who was asked to add bulk and move to tight end. Nor is Gates a glorified tackle such as Dwayne Carswell or a fullback/tight end like Jim Kleinsasser.

No, Gates is an athlete, a college stud ... in basketball. Once a power forward at Kent State, where the 6'5", 250-pounder was a strong rebounder and steady scorer, Gates was not drafted by an NFL team. Perhaps the league thought his future was in the NFL after he led Kent to the final eight of the NCAA Tournament.

But the San Diego Chargers signed him in 2003 as an undrafted free agent even though he hadn't hit the field since high school in Detroit, where he was an all-state selection. It didn't take long for Gates to make an impact in San Diego.

By midseason, he became a starter with the Chargers, who were headed for the league's worst record. Gates showed good hands, as might be expected, and a knack for getting open. He also didn't shy away from the physical stuff a tight end must put up with--and dish out.

"He's a special player because he's had to work hard to catch up football-wise, and he's done it," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer says. "Antonio has the ability to be one of the better players at his position in all of football."

He looked like one on opening day, making eight receptions for 123 yards in a win at Houston. Gates had five third-down catches, showing his skills in the clutch. At a position manned by some future stars such as Winslow, Shockey, Jason Witten and Daniel Graham, Gates is rising quickly.