By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
Just graduated T.R. Miller Tiger football standout Antonio Gomez will get an opportunity to continue his career this fall at Carson-Newman College located at Jefferson City (Tenn.).
The 5-10, 180-pound Gomez hauled in 13 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns last season. He was also a key figure in T.R. Miller's secondary and a dangerous threat as a punt returner. Gomez, who won individual state championships in the long jump, triple jump, 110 meter high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles this spring in track, was able to bounce back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he sustained his junior season.
Gomez is headed to a Carson-Newman program that has been one of the top programs in NCAA Division II. Carson-Newman, which finished 8-2 last season, has won five national championships in its history, most recently in 1989. It has also finished national runner-up five times, the last of which came in 1999.
Gomez is expected to play defense and return kicks for the Eagles.
Gomez gave opposing special teams coaches fits as a sophomore when he returned six kicks for touchdowns. His future took a big hit when he sustained his knee injury early in his junior season. While Gomez returned later that season,
he opted to postpone
surgery until after the football season had been completed.
Gomez made the decision to give college football a try after the spring track season.
to get better throughout the spring. Of course, a big part of that is because more time has passed since the surgery. It held up well for him throughout the track season. I think it is because of that he decided to give football a try,” Riggs said.
Riggs expects Gomez to have a smooth transition to college football.