The Washington Redskins selected Antonio Gibson in the third round (No. 66 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Gibson (6-0, 228 pounds) played two seasons at East Central Community College before transferring to the University of Memphis in 2018. He caught 44 passes for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Tigers while averaging 19 yards per catch. He had 50 receptions for 871 yards at 13 touchdowns at East Central.
As a senior in 2019, Gibson was second on the team with 735 receiving yards and 38 receptions. His 19.3 average yards per catch led all Tigers with at least 10 receptions, while his eight receiving touchdowns were also second on the team.
Gibson also had 33 rushes for 369 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 11.2 yards per rush at Memphis. He had 647 return yards and a touchdown in two seasons at Memphis and 1,201 return yards in his college career.
"I view myself as a weapon," Gibson told local media via conference call. "I've been playing running back and receiver my whole life. I've been playing all over the ball. Offense is just something I'm very talented at. I feel like I can dominate wherever they put me."
GIbson doesn't care how the Redskins use him on offense. His only concern is helping the team in any was possible and being a "gadget guy." Wherever they place him, Gibson said, he is willing to go.
It would seem the Redskins have plans to use him all over the field on offensive. Vice president of Player Personnel Kyle Smith said he sees Gibson as a "swiss army knife," while Ron Rivera also made multiple comparisons to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
"I would definitely like to compare myself to him," Gibson said. "That's exactly what I want to do. I want to be in the backfield, but I also want to affect the game as a receiver. That's what I want to bring to the team."
Now that he's officially a Redskin, Gibson just wants to improve and do whatever he can to help the team.
"Just looking to get myself on the roster," he said. "That's the main goal for me. If that's special teams where I get in first, then that's what I'm going to do and what I'm going to focus on."
Gibson, 21, attended Eagle's Landing High School in McDonough, Georgia. He played football, basketball and ran track in high school. He ended his senior season as the Henry Harold Offensive Player of the Year. He was also the Region 4-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year and received all-region honors in basketball.
NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF ANTONIO GIBSON
- Gibson is the 486th selection made by the Redskins in the Common Draft era (since 1967) and the 37th third-round selection in that time frame. He is the 67th third-round selection by the Redskins all-time since the institution of the draft in 1936.
- Gibson becomes the first offensive player to be selected by the Redskins in the 2020 NFL Draft.
- Gibson is the fifth player drafted by the Redskins from the University of Memphis, joining RB Richard Williams (1983), DE Carl Taylor (1975), RB Danny Pierce (1970) and DT Will Renfroe (1954)
- Dating back to 2011, the Redskins have now selected a running back in 10 consecutive drafts, passing the team's previous high of drafting a running back in nine consecutive drafts from 1983-91.
- Gibson is the fourth player in franchise history selected with the No. 66 pick, joining T Morgan Moses (2014), DT Tracy Rocker (1989) and RB Mike Oliphant (1988).
- Gibson becomes the third running back produced by Memphis selected by the Redskins in franchise history joining Richard Williams (1983) and Danny Pierce (1970). He would be the first wide receiver selected from Memphis.
- The selection of Gibson marks the second-highest draft pick from Memphis, trailing only RB Richard Williams (No. 56 in 1983).
- Gibson was Memphis' sixth winner of The American Athletic Conference's Special Teams Player of the Year honor in the conference's first seven seasons, joining punter Tom Hornsey (2013), kicker Jake Elliott (2014-15) and return specialist Tony Pollard (2016-17).
- Gibson finished No. 5 in school history for all purpose yards in a single-season with 1,749 yards.
- Gibson did not record a fumble in his college career and he averaged 19.3 yards per reception.