Andrew Gachkar
 Gachkar in 2011. | |||||||||
No. 59 San Diego Chargers | |||||||||
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| Linebacker | |||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: November 4, 1988 | |||||||||
| Place of birth: Cheraw, South Carolina | |||||||||
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Career information | |||||||||
| High school: Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley | |||||||||
| College: Missouri | |||||||||
| NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 7 / Pick: 234 | |||||||||
| Debuted in 2011 for the San Diego Chargers | |||||||||
Career history
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| Roster status: Active | |||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2013 | |||||||||
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Andrew Gachkar (born November 4, 1988) in Cheraw, South Carolina is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.
Early life
Gachkar grew up in Overland Park, Kansas. He attended Blue Valley West High School, where he played both running back and linebacker.
College career
Gachkar, rated the number 12 overall prospect in the state of Kansas choose to play collegiately at the University of Missouri. He was a 2 year starter for the Tigers, playing 2009 at the strongside linebacker position, then moving to weakside linebacker in 2010 to replace All-American Sean Weatherspoon. He finished the 2010 season with 84 tackles.[1]
In February 2010, Gachkar, along with fellow Missouri football player Blaine Gabbert and his little brother, Tyler Gabbert, were involved in an altercation against another group of individuals at a Gumby's Pizza location in Columbia, Missouri. The police reports indicated that Gachkar cut his hand punching a plate, but eye witnesses later commented that Gachkar received the wounding punching one of the individuals.[2]
Professional career
Gachkar was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 234th overall pick in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft. On July 28, 2011, he was signed to a four-year deal with the Chargers.[3]
Since being drafted by the Chargers, Gachkar has been one of the team's most valuable special team player. He also has played well as a reserve linebacker. Since coming to the league, he has never missed a game.[4]
Personal life
Gachkar overcame a life-threatening ailment to even be able to play football. In 2007, after his freshman year at Missouri, he was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.[5] He had developed a blood clot because his collarbone and rib cage were too close together to allow proper blood flow through his veins. As a result, he underwent major surgery to remove one of his ribs, and a second surgery after another clot developed. Gachkar spent more than 20 hours in surgery and nearly a month in the hospital and he lost 30 pounds. The surgeries initially put his football future in doubt, but Gachkar was diligent in his rehabilitation and he made it back for the 2008 season without missing a game.[6]
References
- ↑ http://www.rockmnation.com/2010/1/14/1243510/the-missouri-tigers-all-season
- ↑ http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/feb/15/scuffle-leaves-mu-freshman-qb-broken-nose/
- ↑ http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6737/andrew-gachkar
- ↑ http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14141/andrew-gachkar
- ↑ http://www.chargers.com/team/roster/Andrew-Gachkar/230d1067-d9d5-4402-b226-e1cdaf453e89
- ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GachAn00.htm
External links
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