Hawk-Item - - Moved from tight end to offensive tackle during 2004 spring practice.

2005 Honors - - Coaches Appreciation Award, offense . . . 2005 - - Listed as first team left tackle following spring practice . . . started at right tackle in opening win over Ball State as offense gained 441 yards total offense . . . saw action at Iowa State as offense gained 173 rushing yards . . . started at left tackle in win over Northern Iowa as offense gained 496 total yards . . . started at left tackle at Ohio State . . . started at left tackle in win over Illinois as offense rushed for 301 yards and gained 476 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle in win at Purdue as offense gained season-best 535 total yards . . . started at left tackle in win over Indiana as offense gained 425 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle vs. Michigan as offense gained 427 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle at Northwestern at offense gained 492 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle in win at Wisconsin as offense gained 390 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle in win over Minnesota as offense gained 613 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle vs. Florida in Outback Bowl as offense gained 410 yards total offense.

2004 - - Listed as second team right guard following spring practice . . . started at right guard vs. Michigan and started at left tackle in win at Minnesota . . . saw action in opening win over Kent State at left guard as offense rushed for 214 yards and gained 437 yards total offense . . . saw action in win over Iowa State at left guard. . . saw action at Arizona State at right guard . . . started at right guard and played every offensive play at Michigan in first start of his career . . . did not play in win over Michigan State after suffering injury during week of practice . . . did not play in win over Ohio State due to injury . . . did not see action in win at Penn State . . . did not see action in win at Illinois . . . saw action at left tackle in win over Purdue, seeing action in the first half and playing every offensive down in the second half . . . started at left tackle and played every offensive down in win at Minnesota . . . Minnesota game marked second career start and first start at left tackle . . . saw action in win over Wisconsin to clinch share of Big Ten title . . . did not see action in Capital One Bowl win over LSU.

2003 - - Listed as third team tight end following spring practice . . . did not see action in opening win over Miami . . . saw limited action in wins over Buffalo and Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action at Ohio State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in win over Illinois, but had no statistics . . . saw action in win over Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action in Outback Bowl win over Florida, but had no statistics.

2002 - - Did not see any game action.

2001 - - Redshirted.

High school honors - - Honorable mention prep all-American . . . first team all-state as a senior and honorable mention as a junior . . . first team all-conference as a junior and senior and honorable mention as a sophomore . . . team captain and MVP as a senior . . . twice named to the KGAN all-area . . . 2000 Iowa Shrine Bowl selection . . . Career - - career totals include 1,434 receiving yards and 14 TDs . . . recorded 19 QB sacks and five blocked punts as a defensive end . . . 473 yards receiving and four TDs as a senior . . . averaged over 20 yards per catch . . . recorded 10 quarterback sacks and was second on team in tackles as a senior . . . had 723 receiving yards and nine TDs as a junior . . . also lettered in basketball, baseball and track and field . . . helped prep baseball team reach state tournament as a junior.

Personal - - Born 7/2/82 . . . health & sport studies major . . . parents are Judy and Greg Gates . . . high school coach was Jim Plantz.