Aaron Gipson

Gipson is a three-year starter with an advanced understanding of the game. He knows how to utilize his quickness and change of direction and is regarded by the coaching staff as one of team's best players. He has developed into a sure tackler who can defend the run as well as the pass, and finishes the play strong. At Kaiser-Etiwanda High School, Gipson excelled as a playmaker on both sides of the ball, utilizing his speed to accumulate 14 touchdowns on offense and earn a spot among the Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100 elite. He recorded 50 tackles and two quarterback sacks to go along with 500 yards rushing for a team that posted a 5-6 record his senior season. Expecting to redshirt as a true freshman in 2001 at Oregon, Gipson was thrown into the fire that season, and after giving up more than a dozen touchdowns he was questioning his self-confidence. He finished the year with 53 tackles (36 solos) and five stops for losses. He intercepted two passes and deflected two others. After starting the 2003 season opener, Gipson was benched for a poor performance, returning to action three games later as a reserve rover. He came up with 21 tackles (18 solos) with a quarterback sack, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Gipson returned to the starting lineup at left cornerback in 2004. He delivered 42 tackles (31 solos) with five pass deflections and four interceptions. In 2005, Gipson started nine games, leading the nation with seven interceptions, yet only earned second-team All-Pac 10 Conference honors. He registered 40 tackles (30 solos) with 3.5 stops for losses, batted away five passes and blocked a punt. In 46 games with the Ducks, Gipson started 30 times. He recorded 156 tackles (115 solos) with a 5-yard sack and 13.5 stops for losses of 28 yards. He caused two fumbles, deflected fifteen passes, blocked a punt and gained 19 yards on four punt returns. He also ranks fifth on the school's career-record list with thirteen interceptions for 156 yards in returns and a touchdown.

gipson has a compact frame with good overall muscle definition, but has difficulty handling the bigger, faster receivers due to his short arms and legs and adequate timed speed. he is more quick than fast, but because of his superb ability to read and diagnose plays, he has been productive while developing into a playmaker.

He shows decent agility coming out of his backpedal, taking no wasted steps in transition. He comes out of his breaks with good urgency and will not be fooled by misdirection or play-action. He flashes nice feet to plant and drive out of his breaks cleanly, but has speed limitations shadowing and trailing the quicker receivers on deep routes. He has good body adjustment skills going up for the ball in flight, but his short stature and arms prevent him from combating the taller receivers to get to the pass at its high point.

gipson has the loose hips needed to turn and run on the ball, but struggles to maintain relationship with the receiver, as he does not have the second gear to stay tight on his man in long routes. with his body at maximum growth potential, he will continue to have problems covering the taller and faster receivers at the next level.

In the zone, he shows a good feel to locate the ball and keep receivers in front of him. With past experience as a rover and his zone coverage skills, he could bring some value as a nickel and dime back in the pros, but he needs to get a better jump on the play. He will sometimes fail to recognize combo routes and handle the switch-off, but does take good angles to the ball in front of him.

negatives

Lacks good timed speed and that second gear needed to recover when beaten by the quicker receivers on deep routes...Size limitations and short arms prevent him from winning many jump ball battles...Times his leaps, but gets bounced around too much trying to get to the ball at its high point due to his lack of stature...Aggressive player, but does not use his hands well to reroute or jam receivers at the line of scrimmage...Needs to get a better jump on the play vs. combo routes...Has had a few concussions that could warrant further medical evaluation.

gipson shows natural hands for the interception, but because of size issues, will not win too many jump ball situations. he has the soft hands to pluck away from his frame and does a good job of getting his head turned around to look the ball in over his shoulders. if given a free lane, he will make the interception because of his above average hand/eye coordination.

While he flashes decent feet to plant and drive out of transition, he does not have that sudden burst needed to close in a hurry. He is able to stay on the hip of slot backs in the short area, but lacks the second gear needed to recover and close. He struggles to catch receivers from behind, but works hard through the receiver to bat the ball away.

positives

Has a shorter-than-ideal frame, but shows solid bone structure and muscle tone throughout...Plays with very good field awareness and is quick to locate receivers...Rarely fooled by play-action or misdirection...Has the hip snap to mirror in the short area and uses his hands well to keep plays in front of him...Drives out of transition cleanly and shows good body control attacking the ball...Has the toughness to come up and fill the rush lanes and is a proven edge blitzer with good urgency coming from the backside...Has natural hands and good vision, turning his head properly to look the ball in over his shoulders...Plays off blocks effectively to gain leverage working in the box.

gipson has the body control to adjust on the move, but lacks the height to reach the ball at its high point. he does a good job of timing his leaps, but the bigger receivers have a much better reach to pluck the ball. he comes up hard and plays the run well for a player of his size, though. gipson uses his strength to play off blocks and gain leverage and has proven to be effective blitzing off the edge.

He shows aggression to wrap and secure, but lacks the size to be an impact hitter. Still, he will not hesitate to come up, fill and hit the ballcarrier in the rush lane. He is a better tackler in closed quarters than the open field, as his short arms prevent him from dragging down the runner in the second level.

2002: Suffered a right ankle sprain vs. Washington State (11/09), missing the next game vs. Washington. 2003: Did not play vs. Minnesota in the Sun Bowl after suffering a concussion (12/15). 2004: Underwent right ankle surgery in May.

Campus: 4.63 in the 40-yard dash

310-pound bench press

30-inch vertical jump

27 ¾-inch arm length

9-inch hands

Right-handed

16/32 Wonderlic score.

Attended Kaiser (Fontana, Cal.) High School, playing football for head coach Dick Onich

Excelled as a playmaker on both sides of the ball, utilizing his speed to accumulate 14 touchdowns on offense and earn a spot among the Tacoma News Tribune's Western 100 elite

Recorded 50 tackles and two quarterback sacks to go along with 500 yards rushing for a team that posted a 5-6 record his senior season.

Sociology major

One of five children (two brothers, two sisters) of Cheryl and Arthur Gipson

Born Aaron Naithaniel Gipson on 3/12/84 in Harbor City, California

Resides in Fontana, California.