Christian Gonzalez

Christian Gonzalez (born June 28, 2002) is an American football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Colorado and transferred to Oregon for the 2022 season before being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is the younger brother of Colombian-American hurdler Melissa Gonzalez.

For similarly named people, see Cristian González.
Christian Gonzalez
refer to caption
Gonzalez at the 2023 NFL Combine
New England Patriots
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (2002-06-28) June 28, 2002
Carrollton, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:The Colony (The Colony, Texas)
College:
NFL Draft:2023 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17
Career history
Roster status:Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Gonzalez was born on June 28, 2002, in Carrollton, Texas, and grew up in The Colony, Texas. He attended The Colony High School, where he was rated a four-star prospect as a cornerback and wide receiver. Gonzalez initially committed to play college football at Purdue University before enrolling at the University of Colorado.[1][2][3]

College career

Gonzalez would become a full-time cornerback upon joining the Colorado Buffaloes football team in 2020. He started every game as a freshman, making 25 tackles with five pass deflections.[4][5] As a sophomore, he had 53 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and five passes broken up.[6]

Gonzalez transferred to the University of Oregon in 2022 to play for the Oregon Ducks.[7] He was named first-team All-Pac-12 after recording 45 tackles, 7 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions.[8] After the season, Gonzalez decided to forgo his remaining two years of eligibility and enter the 2023 NFL Draft.[9]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1+3⁄8 in
(1.86 m)		 197 lb
(89 kg)		 32 in
(0.81 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.38 s1.54 s2.57 s41.5 in
(1.05 m)		11 ft 1 in
(3.38 m)		14 reps
All values from the NFL Combine[10]

Gonzalez was drafted seventeenth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.[11]

Personal life

Gonzalez was born to a Colombian family. His father, Hector, is 6-foot-9 and played college basketball at the University of Texas at El Paso before playing semiprofessionally in Colombia. He has three sisters, Melissa, Samantha, and Lily. Melissa (University of Texas) and Samantha (University of Miami) were two-time All-Americans in track and field, with Melissa representing Colombia in international events.[12] Gonzalez is the brother-in-law of NFL quarterback David Blough, who is married to Melissa.[3]

References
  1. "Texas defensive back Christian Gonzalez commits to Purdue football". Journal & Courier. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  2. "The Colony cornerback Christian Gonzalez commits to Colorado, flipping from Purdue". Dallas Morning News. November 18, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  3. Heisen, Aaron. "No matter what, Christian Gonzalez gives everything he's got". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  4. "CU Buffs' Christian Gonzalez jumping into leadership role with cornerbacks". The Denver Post. August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  5. "CU Buffs position preview: CBs have talent, potential". The Denver Post. July 19, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  6. Crepea, James (April 6, 2022). "Why adding Christian Gonzalez was critical to what Oregon Ducks defense is aiming to do under Dan Lanning". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  7. "Former Colorado cornerback Christian Gonzalez transfers to Oregon". The Register-Guard. January 8, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  8. Mellor, Cam. "2022 All-Pac-12 College Football Team and Individual Honors". Pro Football Network. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  9. Scarborough, Alex. "Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez enters NFL draft, to skip bowl". ESPN. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  10. "Christian Gonzalez Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  11. Brinkerhoff, Nick (April 27, 2023). "NFL Draft picks 2023: Live results, complete list of selections from Rounds 1-7". Sporting News.
  12. Lozano, Juan. "Oregon's Christian Gonzalez crushed old team". Our Esquina. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
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