When opportunity calls, you either slam dunk it or convert it to a touchdown. Baylor’s Rico Gathers has the opportunity to do something only four other hoopers have ever done: land a spot on a professional football team.
Gathers, a 6″6 power forward who was named AP Honorable Mention for the Baylor Men’s Basketball team, was selected number 217 overall (6th round) by the Dallas Cowboys. Gathers is still coming off an amazing season which ended in the Baylor Bears being eliminated in the NCAA tournament by Yale. This is an amazing accomplishment as Gathers never participated in the NFL Combine but completed a pro day in front of 24 scouts in New Orleans just days before the NFL Draft.
Gathers hasn’t played football since he was 13. There may be some rust that needs to be shaken off but he has the perfect potential teammate to help him get back in form: 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten. All eyes will be on the New Orleans native as he attempts to join other hoopers turned pigskin pro superstars such as Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas. Good luck to Gathers as training camp begins in Dallas on July 30.
