2001 NFL Draft:
ROD GARDNER, Wide Receiver
School: Clemson University Tigers. Height: 6:02.2. Weight: 216. Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
ANALYSIS
Positives…Smart receiver who uses his size and strength to gain advantage over the defensive backs...Has a very tough, physical aspect to his game, drawing comparisons to former Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin, as he compensates for a lack of blazing speed with his outstanding hands and power coming off the line...Quickly recovers and adjusts to the ball in flight...Gets to the off-target passes in stride and shows true aggression going for the ball in traffic...Especially effective on quick slants and hitches, but gains most of his yardage with his leg drive after the catch...Has outstanding flexibility and is a very agile and fluid open field runner...Shades and controls the defender on contact, when called upon for blocking purposes...Also has experience as a defensive back in the dime package.
Negatives…Does not possess blazing speed...Relies more on his power, rather than his juking moves, to gain extra yardage after the catch…Not a game-breaker.
AGILITY TESTS
4.48 in the 40-yard dash...36-inch vertical jump...Scored 7.22 on the power index...407-pound bench press...Bench presses 225 pounds 23 times...447-pound squat...275-pound power clean... 32 5/8-inch arm length...9 5/8-inch hands.
CAREER NOTES
Tough, durable receiver who is a model of consistency, catching at least two passes in his last 28 games...Has 26 starts among the 47 games he’s played in for the Tigers...Two-year starter who finished his career with 166 receptions for 2498 yards (15.0 avg) and 13 touchdowns...His 166 catches broke the old school career-record of 162 by Terry Smith (1990-93) while his 2498 yards are topped only by Smith (2681) and Perry Tuttle (2534, 1978-81) in Clemson annals...His 13 scoring grabs rank fifth (tied) in school history.
2000 SEASON
All-American first-team selection by Gannett News Service and College & Pro Football News- weekly...All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team pock...Semi-finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college’s top receiver...Started eleven games, leading the team with 58 receptions for 1050 yards (18.1 avg) and seven touchdowns...His 1050 yards are topped only by his own school season-record of 1084 in 1999...Carried once for a 1-yard loss...Returned eight kickoffs for 168 yards (21.0 avg) and made three solo tackles on defense and another three on special teams.
Preseason...Bothered with a sprained right ankle in spring drills.
The Citadel...Began the year with 6 catches for 64 yards.
Missouri...Gained 98 yards on 4 catches with touchdowns of 27 & 38 yards.
North Carolina State...Tied his career-high with 10 receptions, good for 137 yards and added 64 yards on 4 kickoff returns.
Maryland...Followed with 5 catches for 148 yards and had 3 kickoff returns for 80 yards, to finish the day with 231 all-purpose yards...His 148 yards rank seventh on Clemson’s game-record list.
North Carolina...Earned ACC Player of the Week honors as he snatched 7 passes for a career-high 182 yards with touchdowns of 20, 43 & 25 yards...His 182 yards broke the old school game-record of 163 yards by Jerry Butler on 5 catches vs. Georgia Tech in 1977.
Georgia Tech...Followed with an 18-yard scoring grab.
Florida State...Gained 75 yards on 3 catches.
South Carolina...Caught 4 passes for 107 yards, including a50-yarder with 0:10 left that set up a game-winning 25-yard field goal by Adam Hunt in a 16-14 decision.
Virginia Tech (Gator Bowl)...Closed out his career with 7 receptions for 94 yards and a 23-yard touchdown.
1999 SEASON
Second-team All-ACC selection...Ranked second in the conference and 17th in the nation in receptions with 6.6 per game...Ranked third in the ACC and 23rd in the nation in reception yards per game.....Finished 10th in the ACC in all-purpose yards, quite an accomplishment considering he had all but one of his yards came on receiving...Set school season-records with 80 receptions for 1084 yards (13.6 avg) and four touchdowns, topping the previous marks of 70 catches for 907 yards by Tony Horne in 1997...Carried once for a 1-yard gain and completed both pass attempts for 15 yards...Added 4 tackles on defense (played in the dime package) and one more on special teams.
Marshall...Began the season in fine fashion, setting a school game-record with 11 receptions, good for 111 yards.
Virginia...Caught 6 passes for 66 yards, made 2 stops on defense and another on special teams.
Virginia Tech...Gained 94 yards on 9 catches.
North Carolina...Hauled in 7 passes for 127 yards and a 49-yard touchdown.
North Carolina State...Added 6 catches for 63 yards and a tackle on defense.
Maryland...Picked up 128 yards on 5 receptions.
Florida State...Made 6 catches for 46 yards and a 7-yard score.
Duke...Followed with 10 receptions for 122 yards.
South Carolina...Hauled in 6 passes for 138 yards with touchdowns of 24 & 29 yards while also making a tackle on defense.
Mississippi State (Peach Bowl)...Caught 7 passes for 75 yards.
1998 SEASON
Played in eleven games, starting three contests...Caught 20 passes for 263 yards (13.2 avg) and a touchdown...Recorded four tackles (3 solos) on defense and another three hits on special teams.
Furman...Began the year with 56 yards on 3 catches.
Virginia Tech...Had a solo tackle and a 4-yard catch.
Virginia...Added a 6-yard grab, a tackle on defense and another on special teams.
Wake Forest...Gained a season-high 79 yards on a pair of receptions.
North Carolina...Had a stop on defense and another on special teams.
Duke...Made 4 catches for 39 yards.
Georgia Tech...Scored on a 3-yard catch.
South Carolina...Picked up 26 yards on 3 catches in the season finale.
1997 SEASON
Moved to wide receiver from the defensive backfield during fall drills...Appeared in twelve games, starting two contests as he made eight catches for 101 yards (12.6 avg) and a touch- down.
Preseason...Suffered a hyper-extended left knee in fall drills (suffered nerve damage, called drop foot, but recovered).
Appalachian State...His first career reception was good for an 8-yard gain.
Wake Forest...Scored his first career touchdown on a 41-yard catch.
Auburn (Peach Bowl)...Added a 27-yard grab.
1996 SEASON
Redshirted as a freshman...Performed on the scout team as a quarterback and split end, but was moved to strong safety in spring drills after the season.
HIGH SCHOOL
All-Southeast and All-Florida selection by Super Prep at Raines (Jacksonville, Fla.) High... Chosen to the Jacksonville Super 24 team...All-Area, All-Conference, All-Region and All-State pick...Three-year starter in football, basketball and baseball...Ranked as the seventh-best athlete in the Southeast by the National Recruiting Advisor...All-Conference choice in basketball... Passed for 1200 yards with 10 touchdowns, rushed for 700 yards with seven scores as a senior and amassed 2500 all-purpose yards with 40 touchdowns in his last two years...Basketball and football team MVP.
PERSONAL
Industrial Education major...Born Roderick F. Gardner on 10/26/77...Resides in Jacksonville, Florida.
