Gibson also handled Kick returns for the Bulldogs and did a good job. Look at his per catch average! I really like this pickup!!
OVERVIEW
Gibson has been a steady performer for the Bulldogs, teaming with fellow receiver Reggie Brown and quarterback David Greene to stake Georgia to a 42-10 record from 2001-04 (sixth best in the country), three straight seasons of 10 or more wins, three straight bowl victories and three consecutive national top-six finishes. The talented athlete also played for Georgia's basketball team as a freshman.
Gibson earned Super Prep All-Dixie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Top 50 in Georgia and Class AAAAA All-State honors as a senior at Ware County (Waycross, Ga.) High School. During his final season, he caught 50 passes for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a junior, he was named the region's Offensive Player of the Year, first-team all-region, first-team all-area and Florida Times Union Super 24, finishing that season with 63 catches for over 1,200 yards and 13 scores. Gibson was also a standout basketball player, competing for the Georgia Stars, an AAU team, where he averaged 21 points per game as a high school junior. He was invited to play in the prestigious 2001 Georgia-Florida All-Star Game.
Gibson was thrust into action as a true freshman at Georgia. He started three games in 2001, ranking second on the team with 33 catches for 772 yards (23.4 average) and six touchdowns, setting a school single-season record by producing five 100-yard receiving games. He also handled the bulk of kickoff return chores, gaining 375 yards on 14 returns (26.8 average). He started eight games at flanker in 2002, coming up with 43 receptions for 758 yards (17.6 average) and four scores. Gibson also tallied 460 yards on 19 kickoff returns (24.2 average) and a touchdown. His 91-yard score was the longest kickoff return by a Bulldog since Lindsay Scott ran one back 99 yards against Louisiana State in 1978.
Gibson missed the Louisiana State game in 2003 with a pulled right hamstring, and the Vanderbilt and Alabama-Birmingham contests with a bone bruise on his left knee. He finished that campaign with 36 catches for 553 yards (15.4 average) and three scores. Gibson came back in 2004 determined to upgrade his performance. He received first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the league's coaches, as he hauled in a career-high 49 passes for 801 yards (16.3 average) and seven touchdowns as a senior.
Gibson closed out his Georgia career with 34 starting assignments in 45 games. He collected 161 catches for 2,884 yards (17.9 average) and 20 touchdowns. He joined Reggie Brown (2,008, 2001-04), Lindsay Scott (2,098, 1978-81), Brice Hunter (2,373, 1992-95) and Terrence Edwards (3,093, 1999-2002) as the only players in school history to gain over 2,000 yards receiving in a career. His 161 catches are topped only by Hunter (182) and Edwards (204) on the school's all-time record list.
Gibson also gained 866 yards on 35 kickoff returns (24.7 average), including a touchdown and carried the ball five times for 32 yards (6.4 average). His 35 returns rank sixth on the school's career-record list while his 866 yards rank fourth. Only Andre Hastings (1,096, 1990-92), Lindsay Scott (1152, 1978-81) and Gene Washington (1,637, 1973-76) gained more yards on kickoff returns in Georgia annals.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has long arms and legs with adequate muscle definition … While his weight room figures are only adequate, he does a decent job of using strength and quickness to defeat the jam … Shows the ability to stick his cuts and work back for the ball … Has very good body control and tracking ability, showing no problems catching the pigskin over his shoulder … Has some short-area quickness to make the initial defender miss … Long strider with good quickness off the line of scrimmage where he can gain and defeat a defensive back's cushion … Better on linear routes where he can execute his speed cuts to separate and adjust to get into position down field … Has the leaping ability to get to the ball at its high point … Shows the natural hands to extend and pluck the ball away from the body's frame … Displays enough speed to take the shallow crossing route and go the distance. Negatives: Has had a series of minor injuries that lead to questions about durability … His frame is built more like a sprinter's than a football player … Shows marginal academic intelligence and may struggle in a complicated system … His frame looks too lean to stand tall against press coverage at the next level … Needs to run crisper routes, as he does not always work back for the ball and will run his cuts on long patterns … Lacks courage and size to combat for the ball in traffic … Hears footsteps and will lose concentration, resulting in quite a few dropped passes … He is too conscious of the oncoming defender, and this affects his play when working in tight quarters … Has elusive running skills, but is not considered a speedy runner, as he gathers to accelerate after the catch … Will not get much yardage after securing the ball, unless he has a free lane in front of him … He is such a marginal blocker that he has been benched in the past due to this issue.