University of Memphis Athletics
Stephen Gostkowski Drafted in the Fourth Round By New England
Apr 30, 2006 | Football
April 30, 2006
MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis kicker Stephen Gostkowski was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He was the first kicker selected in the draft, and was the 118th pick.
Gostkowski, who is the first Tiger kicker ever to be drafted, joins fellow C-USA opponent Garrett Mills, a tight end from Tulsa University, who also was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round. U of M tailback DeAngelo Williams was drafted by Carolina in the first round on Saturday, marking the first time since 2003 that two Tigers had been drafted.
A native of Madison, Miss., Gostkowski was named the 2005 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year after hitting 22 of 25 field goals and all 35 of his PATs this past season. A Lou Groza Award candidate the last two seasons, Gostkowski was named to the first-team All-C-USA squad in 2004 and 2005. He holds C-USA and U of M records in scoring with 369 points, PATs with 159 and field goals with 70.
"I am extremely proud that Stephen was drafted in the fourth round," said Head Coach Tommy West. "He has worked very hard to get to this point, and it is paying off for him. I can't express enough just how happy I am for he and his family today."
Gostkowski finished the 2005 season ranked fifth nationally in field goals made per game and 26th in scoring. He hit 136 of his last 137 PATs, including his last 48 consecutive attempts. Gostkowski ended his career ranked 13th all-time in NCAA history in scoring by kickers with his 369 points, and tied for 14th all-time in field goals made with 70. In the last two years, Gostkowski was 18-of-19 from 40 or more yards. He hit all three of his field goal attempts of 50-plus yards in 2005, including a school-record 53 yarder in the season finale against Marshall. Following the Motor City Bowl in which he kicked field goals of 32, 25 and 50 yards, Gostkowski participated in the 2006 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Gostkowski originally came to Memphis on a baseball scholarship, and has continued to work as a two-sport athlete at the U of M. He has been a starter and a relief pitcher on the mound, and currently leads the Tigers in strikeouts with 35.
