Napa High graduate Gibson drafted by Philadelphia Eagles

By MARTY JAMES, Executive Sports Editor

The Philadelphia Eagles today selected UC Berkeley offensive lineman Mike Gibson, a Napa resident and 2004 Napa High School graduate, in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

Gibson, who is projected to be a guard in the NFL after starting for two years at tackle at Cal, was selected with the 184th pick in the two-day draft. He was the 18th pick of the sixth round.

Gibson, who also played two years of football at Solano Community College-Fairfield, got the call on his cell phone from the Eagles just before 1 p.m. as he was joined by family and friends. A joyous celebration — complete with champagne — followed.

“I’m blessed — that’s all I can say,” Gibson said. “I’ve just been blessed with my size, my speed, my athleticism. And blessed with a good family and good support system, because they’re everything to me.

“It’s a great feeling — I couldn’t be happier right now.”

Gibson was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection, at right tackle in 2006 and at left tackle in 2007. He collected the team’s Ken Cotton Award as its most courageous player as a senior. He was a key part of a superb offensive line which allowed just 11 sacks in 2007 (best in the Pac-10, fourth in the nation).

“He’s worked so hard,” said Gibson’s wife, Jessi. “I don’t think I’ve known anybody who has wanted anything more. That was his goal — I was behind him all the way. We put absolutely everything into it.

“As an athlete, I know that he’s got some special skills that I haven’t seen in a lot of players. I think that he’s going to really blow them away and I think he’s going to make a lot of teams regret not picking him up sooner.”

Gibson also had the opportunity to impress scouts post-season, playing in the East-West Shrine Game and participating in the NFL combine.

“The Eagles have a lot of tradition, which is really nice,” said Gibson. “I know it’s a really blue-collar area, which is what I am — I’m a blue-collar guy. I’ll fit in really nice in their system.”

Gibson leads a group of five Cal football players who were selected on day two of the NFL Draft on Sunday. That group, combined with DeSean Jackson (second-round pick on day one), gives Cal its largest group of players drafted in seven rounds in school history. In 1977, when the draft included 12 rounds, the Golden Bears also had six selections while the 30-round 1952 draft had 10 Bear selections.

Gibson waited from 7 a.m. on Sunday until the call came from Andy Reid, the Eagles’ head coach and executive VP/football operations. During his tenure, Reid has earned NFL coach of the year honors twice, compiled the best win total (96), winning percentage (.608), and playoff victory total (8) in team history. He has captured five division titles and four trips to the NFC Championship Game.

Napa Valley Register Copyright © 2009