Rich Gunnell
Encyclopedia
Richard P. "Rich" Gunnell (born January 12, 1987) is an American football
wide receiver
. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Boston College
.
. In high school he made 115 receptions for 2,200 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns. He played for head coach Chappy Moore, and was on the school's basketball and track teams.
's 1991-94 mark. Gunnell broke the record on a 61-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter of his final game against USC in the 2009 Emerald Bowl
. He finished with 2,459 receiving yards in his career surpassing Mitchell’s 2,388 yards. In his final collegiate game Gunnell he had 130 receiving yards and one touchdown on six catches. He was also the active leader in catches, receiving yards, and punt return touchdowns in the Atlantic Coast Conference
.
Gunnell was voted the Eagles Most Valuable Player by his teammates, the first time a wide receiver captain received the honor since 1990. His "dream" is to play professionally and is awaiting an invitation to the NFL Combine
. Gunnell was a senior team captain along with center Matt Tennant
middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin
. Gunnell played under three head coaches start including Tom O'Brien
and Frank Spaziani
Gunnell played with quarterback
s Matt Ryan
, Dominique Davis
, and Dave Shinskie. His best season statistically was as a sophomore with Ryan as quarterback when he had 64 receptions for 931 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. His senior year with 25-year-old freshman Shinskie he caught 54 passes for 750 yards, and 6 touchdown, plus another 5 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against USC in the Emerald Bowl.
. However, just prior to the start of the 2010 season on September 3, the Chiefs released Gunnell along with 6 other players vying for roster spots.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
.
Early years
Gunnell is from East Windsor, New Jersey and was a standout at Notre Dame High School in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. In high school he made 115 receptions for 2,200 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns. He played for head coach Chappy Moore, and was on the school's basketball and track teams.
College career
Gunnell set the career receiving yard record at Boston College, surpassing Pete MitchellPete Mitchell (American football)
Peter Clark Mitchell is a former professional American football player who played tight end for eight seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants. He was a two time All-American at Boston College...
's 1991-94 mark. Gunnell broke the record on a 61-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter of his final game against USC in the 2009 Emerald Bowl
Emerald Bowl
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at 40,800-seat AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, in San Francisco, California, since 2002...
. He finished with 2,459 receiving yards in his career surpassing Mitchell’s 2,388 yards. In his final collegiate game Gunnell he had 130 receiving yards and one touchdown on six catches. He was also the active leader in catches, receiving yards, and punt return touchdowns in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
.
Gunnell was voted the Eagles Most Valuable Player by his teammates, the first time a wide receiver captain received the honor since 1990. His "dream" is to play professionally and is awaiting an invitation to the NFL Combine
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
. Gunnell was a senior team captain along with center Matt Tennant
Matt Tennant
Matthew H. Tennant is an American football center for the New Orleans Saints. He attended Boston College. Tennant was considered one of the best centers available for the 2010 NFL Draft...
middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin
Mike McLaughlin (American football)
Michael K. McLaughlin is an American football fullback for the Denver Broncos. He was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2010 NFL Draft. McLaughlin attended Woburn Memorial High School in Woburn, Massachusetts, where his senior season he rushed for 1,005 yards and scored 22 touchdowns as...
. Gunnell played under three head coaches start including Tom O'Brien
Tom O'Brien
Thomas O’Brien, Tom O’Brien, or Tommy O'Brien may refer to:*Thomas D. O'Brien, co-founder of William Mitchell College of Law*Thomas J. O'Brien , Illinois politician...
and Frank Spaziani
Frank Spaziani
-External links:*...
Gunnell played with quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Villacher SV of the Austrian Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Dominique Davis
Dominique Davis
Dominique D. Davis is a quarterback for East Carolina University. He played for the Boston College Eagles for two seasons before transferring to Fort Scott Community College after an academic suspension. Davis was the back-up quarterback for senior Chris Crane and took over after Crane suffered a...
, and Dave Shinskie. His best season statistically was as a sophomore with Ryan as quarterback when he had 64 receptions for 931 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. His senior year with 25-year-old freshman Shinskie he caught 54 passes for 750 yards, and 6 touchdown, plus another 5 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against USC in the Emerald Bowl.
Professional career
On April 25, 2010, it was announced that Gunnell had signed with the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. However, just prior to the start of the 2010 season on September 3, the Chiefs released Gunnell along with 6 other players vying for roster spots.