One of the most consistent performers for Florida Atlantic football has been redshirt-senior placekicker Ross Gornall. Having connected on eight field goal attempts and 37 extra points last season, Gornall was the team’s second leading scorer behind running back Alfred Morris. Gornall is set to handle the field goal and kickoff duties again in the 2010 season, and that is good news for Owls fans as Gornall has proven he can perform well on the field.

Having had his best game last season in a 44-40 win at North Texas, Gornall made a field goal, hit five extra points, recorded a tackle and forced a fumble on a kickoff. Gornall finished the year with seven total tackles and eight touchbacks off of kickoffs. Transferring to FAU after a year at Auburn, Gornall didn’t see any game action until the mid-season of his junior year, and made a 36-yard field goal in the Motor City Bowl to close out the season.

A three sport athlete while at Palm Beach Gardens High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Gornall didn’t pick up the game of football until his freshman year of high school, saying that soccer brought him to the kicking aspect of football. Gornall went on to win a state championship in football and also claimed one in baseball.

Gornall recently sat down with us for “Up Close”.

Quick Hits

What is your favorite food?

“Pizza.”

What is your pet peeve?

“People not showing up and doing the things they say they’re going to do.”

Who is your current off the field role model?

“I would have to say with the current change Lebron James. Just the way he handles and goes about things, I think he’s professional
and does things the right way.”

What are you most proud of?

“Presenting myself with this opportunity by playing football and just being here representing FAU.”

What is your major?

“Exercise Science. Hopefully I can be a coach one day, stay in the kicking game and stay around it running camps and that kind of
deal.”

What is your Faith?

“Christian.”

Line of scrimmage

What aspect of your game do you feel is your strength?

“I would say the mental side. That’s the biggest part of the kicking game, is staying mentally stable, and I feel like I have got that under
control.”

What aspect of your game do you feel is your weakness?

“Consistency. With kicking, consistency is the name of the game and I need to be there.”

Down the field

Besides football, what brought you to FAU?

“It’s close to home, I love the area, I love the people, and it’s a great school.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

“Championship. If you don’t set the bar high, you know, make every field goal, hit every kickoff out of the back of the end zone, and win
the conference and got to a big bowl game.”

What game are you looking forward to the most next season?

“Michigan State in Detroit or Texas. Those two are big games, big crowds, lots of viewing, it gets us a lot of exposure for the school.”

What do you want FAU fans to know about you personally?

“I take care of my dog; I have a nice half rottweiler half pit-bull named Bailey. I love going to the beach and out on the boat, anything with water.”

Touchdown

Coming up, our next player is the odd-ball on the team, and strength coach Rod Payne lets him know it.