Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski is a tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona.
As a true freshman in 2007, Gronkowski was a force grabbing 28 receptions for 525 yards and six touchdowns. His 18.8 yards per reception average was the best on the team and his receiving yards were a then school record for a tight end. He was named a The Sporting News freshman All-American, The Sporting News freshman Pac-10, Rivals.com freshman All-American, and All-Pac-10 honorable mention player.
In Gronkowski’s sophomore season, the tight end recorded 47 receptions for 672 yards and a team-best ten touchdowns after missing the first 3 games of the season. “Gronko” was twice named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week, including for his performance in a failed comeback bid against Oregon, where he caught 12 passes for 143 yards. That effort set Arizona’s tight end records for single-game, single-season, and career receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Gronkowski was named an Associated Press third-team All-American and All-Pac-10 first-team tight end.
He has an elite combination of size, speed and athleticism for the position and can be an effective receiver at virtually all levels of the passing tree. He is a tough, no nonsense type of blocker and will no doubt provide the Patriots with a Pro Bowl caliber starting tight end.
During the preseason, Gronkowski was one of three NFL players to score four touchdowns, tying Victor Cruz a rookie wide receiver for the New York Giants and Anthony Dixon, a running back for the San Francisco 49ers. On one of those touchdowns, a 14-yard pass from Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady, Gronkowski dragged St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis several yards before diving into the end zone. In the Patriots Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Gronkowski caught his first regular season touchdown in the fourth quarter on a one-yard pass from Brady.
In a Week 10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gronkowski caught three touchdown passes from Brady, becoming the first rookie in New England Patriots history, and the youngest rookie in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
Returning to his home city of Buffalo in Week 16, Gronkowski caught two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills, giving him nine touchdown catches on the season. He added a touchdown in the season finale, giving him 10 on the season, and making him the first rookie tight end since the NFL-AFL merger to score 10 touchdowns. In 16 games played (11 starts), Gronkowski caught 42 passes for 546 yards. Also, despite missing the entire 2009 season following back surgery, Gronkowski did not miss a single game or practice all season.
Gronkowski was nominated three times for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week, in Weeks 10, 14, and 17, losing in Week 10 to Tim Tebow, and winning in Weeks 14 and 17. Gronkowski also finished fifth in fan balloting at tight end for the 2011 Pro Bowl, and fourth overall among rookies. Gronkowski also received one vote for the Associated Press 2010 All-Pro Team.