#56
GINO GRADKOWSKI
Year: Senior
Position:
Offensive Line
Height /Weight: 6-4 / 295
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
High School:
Seton-LaSalle HS
Previous School: West Virginia
Major: Business Management
• 2011 Delaware Season Statistics
At Delaware: Co-captain for the 2011 season along with wide receiver Mark Schenauer and linebackers Andrew Harrison and Paul Worrilow…one of the top returning offensive linemen in the nation and an NFL prospect…will be the anchor for an offensive line that returns four starters and is considered one of the top units in the nation…has earned extensive pre-season national honors…has been named a pre-season first team All-American by both the Consensus Draft Services and Phil Steele College Football Preview…also a pre-season first team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection by both Phil Steele and by the CAA coaches and media members…third-year team member with 26 career starts to his credit...one of four returning starters on a offensive line and one of nine returning offensive linemen to see playing time in 2010...a tough player with great leadership qualities...vocal player towards whom teammates gravitate.
2010 Season: Earned second letter while starting all 15 games at the left guard position...was a key member of an offensive line that helped the team rank No. 2 in the CAA in total offense with 401.8 yards per game, rushing offense at 184.4 yards per game and scoring offense with 27.9 points per game...part of a group that was pivotal in CAA Rookie of the Year Andrew Pierce and CAA Offensive Player of the Year Pat Devlin's success...earned numerous awards during the season...was selected as a second team All-American by Phil Steele's College Football...also named first team All-CAA and first team All-East (ECAC)...named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. West Chester in the season opener...versatile athlete who can also play center…team went 12-3 and advanced to the FCS national title game under head coach K.C. Keeler.
2009 Season: Tough player who won the starting right guard position during pre-season practice…started all 11 games at right guard for an offensive line that allowed the Blue Hens to pass for 243.4 yards per game (No. 2 in CAA) and tally 355.0 yards of total offense…rotated on a regular basis with fellow sophomore Will Nagle…team went 6-5 for Keeler.
At West Virginia: Two-year member of the squad as a backup offensive lineman...team went 20-6 and made two bowl appearances during his career.
2008 Season: Saw action in just one game as a redshirt freshman...played on offensive line in team's season-opening 48-21 victory over Villanova...team went 9-4 and defeated North Carolina 31-30 in the Meineke Bowl for head coach Bill Stewart.
2007 Season: Did not see game action and retained freshman eligibility...team went 11-2 and defeated Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl for head coach Rich Rodriguez.
High School: Played football and basketball at Seton LaSalle High School...two-way lineman in football for head coach Lou Cerro...four-year starter who led team to the 2004 district title...earned All-State honors his final two seasons and was a three-time all-conference pick and two-time All-WPIAL District selection...served as team captain his final two seasons...earned a spot on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fab 22" Team twice...competed in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star Game...three-year starter at center in basketball.
Personal: Gino Michael Gradkowski...born November 5, 1988...son of Bruce and Debbie Gradkowski...history major…has worked at the National 5 & 10 on Main Street in Newark during the summer…would like to become a high school teacher and coach after graduation and would also be interested in becoming a firefighter...youngest of four children...father works for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and mother is a dental assistant...brother, Bruce, was a standout quarterback, three-year starter, and All-MAC selection at Toledo and has played in the National Football League with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-07), Cleveland Browns (2008), Oakland Raiders (2009-10), and currently with the Cincinnati Bengals (2011)...cousin, Joe DelSando, played wide receiver at Pitt (2003-07) and cousin, Carmen Connolly, played wide receiver at West Virginia...one of seven grandsons to play college football.
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