Kiki Gonzalez

Height:
6-2
Weight:
300
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Elizabeth, N.J.
High School:
Elizabeth

One of the top defensive players in the MAC ... ranked by The Sporting News as the No. 18 defensive tackle in the nation ... a consensus preseason first-team All-MAC performer ... selected to the first team by Athlon, Lindy’s, Street and Smith’s and The Sporting News ... a leader on the defense over the past two seasons and served as captain in 2005 ... solid run stopper who takes up space ... an emotional but steady performer who has started 24-straight games, tied for first on the team with Reggie Corner ... his 25 career starts lead all active defensive players ... gained his fourth year of eligibility after sitting out 2002 due to NCAA academic rules.
as a Senior (2005): Started all 13 games at nose guard ... second-team All-MAC?honoree, his first career honor ... an anchor in the middle of the defensive line, helping the Zips rank No. 2 in the MAC and No. 32 in total defense ... aided the defense in posting its top two efforts in Division I-A history, holding Ohio (Nov. 15) to 110 total yards, including 11 on the ground, and Kent State to 116 (Nov. 24) ... career-high five tackles (four solo) vs. Army (Oct. 22) ... matched that number (two solo) at Ball?State (Nov. 5) ... dropped Bowling Green’s quarterback for a three-yard loss in the Zips’ 24-14 victory (Oct. 29) ... had three stops in the season opener vs. Purdue (Sept. 10) ... matched that total in the overtime win over Northern Illinois (Sept. 24) where he also recovered a fumble ... blocked a field-goal attempt vs. the Huskies in the MAC Championship game ... served as team captain, along with Domenik Hixon.
as a Junior (2004): Earned the starting nod in all 11 games at nose guard ... sacked UCF quarterback Steven Moffett on back-to-back plays for a total loss of 16 yards (Oct. 16) ... also forced two fumbles in the game ... recovered a fumble at Ohio (Nov. 13) that led to a UA field goal as the Zips defeated the Bobcats, 31-19 ... season-high four tackles against Miami (Nov. 20).
as a Sophomore (2003): Appeared in all 12 games, making his first career start in the season opener against Kent State (Aug. 28) ... totaled 16 tackles, eight solo, and three tackles for loss ... had two tackles vs. Kent State (Aug. 28), Eastern Michigan (Sept. 13) and Howard (Sept. 20) ... season-high three tackles (one solo) at Buffalo (Sept. 27), two of which were for a loss ... combined with Cam Yeow for his first career sack in that game ... finished the season with two solo stops at Central?Michigan (Nov. 8) and two stops vs. Ohio (Nov. 15).
as a Freshman (2002): Sat out while fulfilling academic requirements.
at Elizabeth High School: A second-team All-New Jersey choice as a senior … first-team All-Watchung Conference … played quarterback, tight end and defensive line … 11 QB sacks his junior and senior seasons … all-state shot putter … fifth in the state all groups (56-07.50) ... coached by Jerry Moore.
Personal: Son of Juan Gonzalez and Concepcion Battle ... full name is Gabriel Gonzalez, but goes by Kiki ... parents fled Cuba in 1980 due to political unrest ... was the only one of five siblings born in U.S. ... majoring in business and organizational communications.