| Antonio Gates was born June 18, 1980 in | | | | Michigan University then two junior |
| Detroit Michigan. Ever since Gates was a | | | | colleges until he finally settled down |
| young child it was obvious that he was | | | | at Kent State University in Ohio. After |
| going to be a great athlete in one sport | | | | his college basketball career was over, |
| or another. Standing at 6 foot 4 inches | | | | NBA scouts felt that at 6'4" he was not |
| and weighing 260 pounds, he has all of | | | | big enough to make it in the league. In |
| the physical skills that a top notch NFL | | | | turn, he began to focus his energy on |
| tight end could need. When you add this | | | | getting ready for the NFL. Nearly 20 |
| to the mental aspect of his game, it is | | | | teams attended his workout, and the San |
| no wonder why many people consider him | | | | Diego Chargers were so impressed that |
| to be the best tight end in the game. | | | | they signed him to a contract. After a |
| Gates is a bit different than the rest | | | | slow rookie season in 2004, Gates |
| of the players that you see in the NFL. | | | | quickly became an offensive threat. |
| Before his rookie season in the league, | | | | Throughout the next three seasons |
| he had not played in an organized | | | | combined he caught 241 passes for 2,989 |
| football game since high school. Gates | | | | yards and 32 touchdowns. This was good |
| decided that he wanted to go to Michigan | | | | enough to land him in the Pro Bowl each |
| State University to play both basketball | | | | of these three years, and also establish |
| and football, but when he was told by | | | | himself as a top offensive threat. For a |
| then Coach Nick Saban that he could only | | | | guy that did not play college football, |
| play football he decided to transfer. | | | | Gates is doing just fine in the NFL. |
| Subsequently, this led him to Eastern | | | | Bob writes for and MVP ProShop. |