Rico Gathers
{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rico Gathers
| image =
| caption =
| number = 80
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|1|7}}
| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 285
| high_school = Riverside Academy
(Reserve, Louisiana)
| college = Baylor
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 217
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2018}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2019}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-Big 12 (2015)
- Second-Team All-Big 12 (2016)
- Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2015)
- Louisiana Mr. Basketball (2011)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 3
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 45
| pfr = GathRi00
}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rickadon
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Rico Gathers
| alias =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| genre = Hip hop
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper}}
| instrument =
| years_active = 2018–present
| label =
}}
Ricardo Darnell Gathers (born January 7, 1994) is an American rapper and former professional football tight end. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played college basketball at Baylor University and did not play college football.
Early life
Gathers attended Riverside Academy. He was named Louisiana Mr. Basketball while at Riverside Academy in Reserve, Louisiana.{{cite web | last=Iles | first=Trey | title=Rico Gathers has become Baylor men's basketball rebounding machine | website=NOLA.com | date=2015-01-29 | url=https://www.nola.com/sports/rico-gathers-has-become-baylor-mens-basketball-rebounding-machine/article_73a638bf-2da2-5f7f-bc07-02c00335ea6c.html | access-date=2025-03-23}} As a sophomore, he contributed to his team winning the state title, while averaging 19.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the state tournament.
As a junior, he averaged 20.7 points, 16.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game. As a senior, he helped his team reach the Class 2A state championship game, while averaging 22 points, 17 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
College career
Gathers accepted a basketball scholarship from Baylor University. He became a starter at power forward as a junior, averaging 11.6 points (second on the team), 11.6 rebounds (led the team), 1.2 steals and one block and in 29.9 minutes per game. At the end of the season, he received All-Big 12 Conference, honorable-mention All-American and Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors.{{cite web|title=Sooners' Hield Leads All-Big 12 Men's Basketball Honors|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209934691|website=Big 12 Conference|access-date=May 17, 2015|date=March 8, 2015}} He led the conference in double-doubles with 17 and recorded a school record 28 rebounds in a win over Huston-Tillotson.{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/01/21/gathers-has-25-points-28-rebounds-in-no-21-baylors-win/22143385/ |title=Gathers has 25 points, 28 rebounds in No. 21 Baylor's win |work=USA TODAY |access-date=October 31, 2018 |language=en}}
As a senior, he averaged 11.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He finished as Baylor's All-Time leading rebounder. He also was the first player ever to reach over 1,000+ points and 1,000+ rebounds in school history.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6¼
| weight = 273
| dash = 4.66
| ten split = 1.71
| twenty split = 2.79
| shuttle = 4.56
| cone drill =
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 7
| bench = 16
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 35
| hand span = 11.2
| note = All values from Baylor pro day.{{cite web |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=1016784&draftyear=2016&genpos=TE |title=Rico Gathers, DS #26 TE, Baylor |website=NFLDraftScout.com |access-date=September 6, 2016}}
}}
Although he had not played a down of football since middle school as a 13-year-old,{{cite web |url=http://www.thesportsblaze.com/baylor-forward-rico-gathers-considering-switching-over-to-football/8494 |title=Former Baylor forward Rico Gathers to pursue NFL career |last=Jossart |first=Trevor |website=TheSportsBlaze.com |date=April 23, 2016 |access-date=September 6, 2016}} Gathers informed Baylor head coach Art Briles that he would be joining the Bears football team for the 2016 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.todaysu.com/u-news/baylor-power-forward-rico-gathers-to-play-for-football-team-next-fall/ |title=Baylor power forward Rico Gathers to play for football team next fall |last=Stack |first=Dan |website=TodaysU.com |date=February 29, 2016 |access-date=September 5, 2016}} However, he later decided to forgo playing for Baylor and entered the 2016 NFL draft after the Baylor men's basketball team lost in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament to Yale.
=Dallas Cowboys=
Gathers was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (217th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft,{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=February 25, 2019}} based on the potential he showed during his pre-draft workout.{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-draft-former-baylor-hoops-star-rico-gathers-0ap3000000658858 |title=Cowboys draft former Baylor hoops star Rico Gathers |work=NFL.com |date=April 30, 2016 |access-date=April 30, 2016 |last=Parr |first=Dan}} In rookie minicamp the team considered playing him at defensive end, but decided to keep him at tight end instead. On September 3, he was released and was signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Three Former Draft Picks Among Cowboys' Cuts; McFadden Moved To NFI|url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/09/03/three-former-draft-picks-among-cowboys-cuts-mcfadden-moved-nfi?sf35076210=1|last=Helman|first=David|website=DallasCowboys.com}}{{cite web |title=Cowboys Sign Sanchez, Release Showers; 7 Added To Practice Squad |url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/09/04/cowboys-sign-sanchez-release-showers-7-added-practice-squad |last=Helman |first=David| website=DallasCowboys.com|date=September 4, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815024810/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/09/04/cowboys-sign-sanchez-release-showers-7-added-practice-squad|archive-date=August 15, 2017}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2017.{{cite web|title=Dallas Cowboys sign TE Rico Gathers, WR Andy Jones to futures contracts|url=https://www.all22.com/dallas-cowboys/dallas-cowboys-sign-te-rico-gathers-wr-andy-jones-futures-contracts|website=All22.com|author=Knox, Stephen|date=January 17, 2017}}
After a strong training camp and preseason, Gathers made the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster in 2017. However, he suffered a concussion in the preseason, and was placed on the injured reserve on September 4, which made him eligible to return in week 8 at the earliest.{{cite web|title=Cowboys put Rico Gathers on injured reserve|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/09/04/cowboys-put-rico-gathers-on-injured-reserve/|author=Gantt, Darin|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=September 4, 2017}} Despite practicing with the squad since week 9, after week 13, he was shut down for the season.{{Cite news|url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/12/04/cowboys-vp-stephen-jones-provides-latest-updates-rico-gathers-randy-gregory|title=Cowboys VP Stephen Jones provides latest updates on Rico Gathers and Randy Gregory|date=December 4, 2017|work=SportsDay|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=en}} It was later revealed that he also suffered jaw and neck injuries as well.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2018/01/18/mailbag-rico-gathers%E2%80%99-progress-drafting-smaller-wide-receivers|title=Mailbag: Update On Rico Gathers' Progress? Drafting Smaller WRs?|date=January 18, 2018|work=Dallas Cowboys|access-date=September 3, 2018|language=en}}
In 2018, the Cowboys made the unconventional move of keeping him as the fourth tight end to avoid losing him to waivers, even though he was arrested on the eve of cuts for marijuana possession.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/the-big-step-that-got-rico-gathers-on-the-roster|title=The "Big Step" That Got Rico Gathers On The Roster|date=September 3, 2018|work=Dallas Cowboys| access-date=September 3, 2018}} He was the fourth-string tight end behind Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin and rookie Dalton Schultz. In Week 5, he recorded his first professional catch against the Houston Texans.{{Cite news |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2018/10/08/cowboys-te-rico-gathers-hauls-in-first-career-catch-in-first-quarter-of-texans-game/ |title=Cowboys TE Rico Gathers hauls in first career catch in first quarter of Texans game |date=October 7, 2018 |work=SportsDay |access-date=October 31, 2018 |language=en}} He finished with 3 receptions for 45 yards.
On June 14, 2019, it was announced that Gathers was suspended for the first game of the season, after violating the NFL's policy and program on substances of abuse.{{cite web|title=Cowboys TE Rico Gathers suspended for Week 1|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-te-rico-gathers-suspended-for-week-1-0ap3000001033901|author=Reardon, Logan|website=NFL.com|date=June 14, 2019}} On August 5, Gathers was waived by the Cowboys.{{cite web|title=Experiment Over; Cowboys Waive TE Rico Gathers|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/experiment-over-cowboys-waive-te-rico-gathers|author=Eatman, Nick|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=August 5, 2019}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On August 11, 2019, he was signed as a free agent by the Cleveland Browns.{{Cite news |date=August 11, 2019 |title=Browns sign TE Rico Gathers |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-te-rico-gathers |access-date=2024-10-23 |publisher=ClevelandBrowns.com}} He was placed on the reserve/suspended list on August 31, 2019.{{cite news |title=Browns cut roster to 53 players |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-cut-roster-to-53-players |website=ClevelandBrowns.com |date=August 31, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2019}} He was waived by the Browns on September 10, after being reinstated from the suspension.{{Cite news |date=September 10, 2019 |title=Browns release TE Rico Gathers |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-release-te-rico-gathers |access-date=2024-10-23 |publisher=ClevelandBrowns.com}}
Personal life
Gathers' father is the cousin of Hank Gathers, an All-American and former Loyola Marymount star.{{cite web|title=Rico Gathers Bio|url=https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/rico-gathers/523|website=BaylorBears.com|access-date=April 16, 2019}} Gathers is married and has a child.{{cite news|title=Baylor basketball forward Gathers arrested on theft charge|url=https://www.wacotrib.com/sports/baylor/mens_basketball/baylor-basketball-forward-gathers-arrested-on-theft-charge/article_ef57c4f1-2707-59bf-816d-5cac8500a4ba.html|access-date=June 11, 2019|work=Waco Tribune|date=June 10, 2015}} During his time away from football, he self-taught himself to create, arrange and produce hip-hop music under the pseudonym Rickadon.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/cowboys-te-rico-gathers-uses-music-to-heal-off-the-field/64921/|title=Cowboys TE Rico Gathers Uses Music to Heal Off the Field|work=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth|access-date=January 12, 2019|language=en}}
On August 31, 2018, he was arrested for possession of marijuana in Frisco, Texas.{{cite web|title=Cowboys TE Rico Gathers charged with marijuana possession|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24545088/dallas-cowboys-te-rico-gathers-arrested-marijuana-possession|author=Archer, Todd|website=ESPN|date=September 1, 2018|access-date=January 12, 2019}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Cowboys2016DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gathers, Rico}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Basketball players from Louisiana
Category:Baylor Bears men's basketball players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:People from LaPlace, Louisiana
Category:Players of American football from New Orleans