Christian Gonzalez, the second former Texas high school football player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft behind Tyree Wilson, was picked 17th overall by the New England Patriots.
Born on June 28, 2002, in Carrollton, Texas, Gonzalez grew up in The Colony, Texas, and attended The Colony High School. There, he earned a four-star prospect rating as both a cornerback and wide receiver. Initially, Gonzalez had committed to play college football at Purdue University; however, he eventually chose the University of Colorado instead.
Upon joining the Colorado Buffaloes football team in 2020, Gonzalez transitioned to a full-time cornerback. He demonstrated his prowess by starting every game as a freshman, accumulating 25 tackles and five pass deflections. As a sophomore, Gonzalez continued to excel, recording 53 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and five passes broken up.
In 2022, Gonzalez transferred to the University of Oregon to play for the Oregon Ducks. His outstanding performance led to him being named first-team All-Pac-12, after registering 45 tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions. Deciding to forgo his remaining two years of eligibility, Gonzalez entered the 2023 NFL Draft.
At the NFL Combine, Gonzalez showcased his athletic ability with impressive stats, including a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, a 41.5-inch vertical jump, and an 11-foot-1-inch broad jump. His performance at the combine undoubtedly contributed to his selection as the 17th overall pick in the draft by the New England Patriots.
Gonzalez comes from a Colombian family with a strong athletic background. His father, Hector, standing at 6-foot-9, played college basketball at the University of Texas at El Paso before playing semi-professionally in Colombia. Gonzalez has three sisters, Melissa, Samantha, and Lily, who have also excelled in sports. Melissa and Samantha, both two-time All-Americans in track and field, have represented Colombia in international events.
Christian Gonzalez’s personal life also has ties to the NFL. His brother-in-law, David Blough, is an NFL quarterback married to Gonzalez’s sister, Melissa. With his impressive college career and strong athletic lineage, Christian Gonzalez is poised to make a significant impact on the New England Patriots and the NFL as a whole.
Gonzalez fills and immediate need for the Patriots and should be the opening game starter.
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