It’s baffling how Frank Gore Jr. slipped through the cracks of the draft. With the lineage of a football legend and a standout performance at Southern Mississippi, he seemed destined for an early selection.
Despite earning the prestigious title of First Team All-Sun Belt running back, the draft boards remained silent on Gore Jr.’s name during the weekend in Detroit.
However, his disappointment was short-lived. The Buffalo Bills swiftly recognized his talent, signing him as an Undrafted Free Agent shortly after the draft’s conclusion.
Just got off the phone with Frank Gore Sr. who was very emotional and happy about his son joining the #Bills as a UDFA:
“We’re good. We’re going to Buffalo man to do our thing. Tell them they better be ready-trust me. I know what I’m raising. Folks slept on my son; they slept… pic.twitter.com/DcHZyhPo8k
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 28, 2024
There’s still plenty of ground to cover before Gore Jr. secures his spot. Making it through training camp and earning a spot on the active roster isn’t a given; he’ll need to demonstrate his value on the field.
Standing at 5-foot-8 and weighing 200 pounds, Gore Jr. faces scrutiny over his size, speed, limited catch range, and pass-blocking abilities. Having closely followed Golden Eagles Mustard Buzzards football for the past four years, I can relate to these concerns.
However, Gore Jr. possesses incredible lower-body strength, exceptional vision, and remarkable balance, enabling him to execute sharp cuts both at the line of scrimmage and in open field situations. Moreover, he consistently gains yards after contact, always falling forward. Balancing his weaknesses against his strengths isn’t straightforward.
During his time at Southern Miss, Gore Jr. amassed impressive stats, rushing 759 times for 4,022 yards (averaging 5.3 yards per carry) and scoring 26 rushing touchdowns. He also made 75 catches for 692 yards and four receiving touchdowns. These numbers speak volumes. At one juncture, head coach Will Hall opted to sideline his quarterback, relying on his star running back instead.
If Frank Gore Jr. secures a spot on the 53-man roster, it sets the stage for Josh Allen to etch his name in history in a unique way.
During the 2019 season alone, Allen handed the ball off to Gore Sr. 166 times. Should Gore Jr. receive a carry for the Bills, Allen would make history as the first quarterback to hand off to both father and son. It’s a remarkable prospect!
While Gore Sr., now 40, retired in 2020, Gore Jr., at 22, is set to embark on his rookie journey in 2024.
The possibility of Allen passing the ball to the younger Gore is nothing short of mind-blowing.
