Adam Gotsis

Adam Gotsis (born 23 September 1992) is an Australian professional American football defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Tech and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Adam Gotsis
refer to caption
Gotsis with the Denver Broncos in 2017
No. 96 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1992-09-23) 23 September 1992
Melbourne, Australia
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:287 lb (130 kg)
Career information
High school:Kew
(Kew East, Victoria, Australia)
College:Georgia Tech
NFL Draft:2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 63
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2022
Total tackles:182
Sacks:9.5
Forced fumbles:3
Fumble recoveries:3
Pass deflections:18
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Gotsis was born in Melbourne, Australia to parents of Greek heritage, he was raised in the suburb of Abbotsford. He grew up playing Australian rules football[1] and supported the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. At the age of 13, while attending Kew High School, his interest in Australian rules football had waned and his mother discovered a local junior American football club via a Google search, the Monash Warriors, that Gotsis and his older brother would later join.[2] He recorded a team-high 12.5 sacks and earned league MVP honors in 2010. He progressed through the local ranks and eventually represented the Australian national American football team at the IFAF World Championship in December 2011.[3] A month later, Gotsis signed to play college football for Georgia Tech and arrived in Atlanta in July 2012.[4]

College career

Gotsis spent four years playing college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. Gotsis appeared in 48 games (37 starts) at Georgia Tech, totaling 110 tackles (69 solo), 12.5 sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks. He started the first nine games of his senior season, finishing the year with 31 tackles (20 solo), five tackles for loss, a team-best three sacks and two fumble recoveries before a season-ending knee injury. Gotsis started all 14 games along the defensive line his junior season, posting 36 tackles (23 solo), three sacks, one interception, three passes defensed and two blocked kicks. He was named to the All-ACC Second-team by both the media and coaches.[5] Gotsis started all 13 games of his sophomore season at nose tackle, recording 38 tackles (23 solo), 5.5 sacks, one interception and one pass defensed in addition to blocking two kicks. He ranked second on team in tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (5.5). He graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Business Administration in December 2015.[6][7]

Professional career

Denver Broncos

Gotsis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round (63rd overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft.[8] He became the highest-drafted Australian-born player in NFL history. On 26 May 2016, the Broncos announced that they had signed Gotsis to a four-year, $5.40 million contract with a signing bonus of $1.06 million.[9]

Gotsis played all 16 games and finished with 14 tackles (5 solo), one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. Gotsis made his NFL debut vs. the Carolina Panthers on 8 September 2016.

In 2017, Gotsis started 13-of-16 games played, totaling 41 tackles (28 solo), two sacks, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He earned his first NFL start and made four tackles (2 solo) vs. the Dallas Cowboys on 17 September 2017. Gotsis recorded his first career sack and blocked a field goal vs. the New York Giants on 15 October 2017.

On 23 December 2019, Gotsis was placed on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On 2 August 2020, Gotsis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[10]

Gotsis re-signed with the Jaguars on 25 March 2021.[11] He played in 16 games with four starts, recording three sacks and 27 tackles.

On 4 May 2022, Gotsis re-signed with the Jaguars.[12]

Controversy

In March 2018, Gotsis was arrested for alleged rape of a woman in 2013,[13] while he was a student-athlete at Georgia Tech. He surrendered himself to Atlanta Police on 7 March 2018, and was released after posting $US 50,000.[14] On 15 August 2018, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office announced that it would not pursue charges against Gotsis.[15]

References
  1. "Australians Adam Gotsis, Tom Hackett hopeful ahead of NFL draft". 28 April 2016 – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. Georgia Tech Athletics (27 September 2012). "Georgia Tech Football: Adam Gotsis" – via YouTube.
  3. "IFAF announces first of 12 players named to World Team roster to face USA in annual International Bowl - Gridiron Australia". gridironaustralia.org.au.
  4. "Australian DT Adam Gotsis commits to Georgia Tech - Gridiron Australia". gridironaustralia.org.au.
  5. "2018 Denver Broncos Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. Ken Sugiura (28 April 2016). "How Adam Gotsis made himself an NFL draft prospect". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  7. "Denver Broncos Take Gotsis Despite Knee Issues". Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  8. "NFL Broncos welcome Aussie pick Gotsis".
  9. Melanie Dinjaski (27 May 2016). "NFL: Adam Gotsis officially signs rookie contract with Denver Broncos for $5.4 million". foxsports.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  10. Gantt, Darin (2 August 2020). "Jaguars sign veteran defensive end Adam Gotsis". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  11. "Jaguars Re-Sign Defensive End Adam Gotsis". Jaguars.com. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  12. "Roster Moves: Jaguars re-sign DL Adam Gotsis". Jaguars.com. 4 May 2022.
  13. Agencies (13 March 2018). "Denver Broncos' Adam Gotsis arrested over alleged 2013 rape". the Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  14. "Australian NFL star Adam Gotsis denies US rape allegation". SBS News. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  15. "Rape case against Broncos DE Adam Gotsis dropped". espn.com. 15 August 2018.
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