BOILING SPRINGS (December 17, 2019) – Gardner-Webb receiver Izaiah Gathings was named honorable mention FCS Sophomore All-America by Hero Sports on Tuesday afternoon.

Gathings (Statesville, N.C. / Statesville HS) enjoyed a breakout year for the Runnin' Bulldogs, and emerged as one of the top receivers in America over the final month of the season.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pounder was a big play threat early in the season, ranking among the national leaders in yards per catch through the October 5 win at Western Carolina. He started his rise to prominence on Homecoming weekend vs. Hampton, catching four passes for a career-high 93 yards and two touchdowns.

Gathings went on to catch at least one touchdown in the next six games to close the season. He caught two touchdowns in three consecutive games to tie a Big South record, then exploded for 14 catches and 172 yards vs. Charleston Southern to begin November. 

He caught 10 passes for 120 yards and a score at Presbyterian, dominated play with 12 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns vs. North Alabama and closed the season with 11 catches for 117 yards and an early touchdown at No. 9 Kennesaw State.

Gathings smashed the Big South record by finishing the 2019 season with four consecutive games with 10+ catches and 100+ yards. He led the league in catches and yards, while pacing the Big South with 103.3 yards per game against conference foes.

When the final horn sounded on 2019, Gathings had 71 catches for 1,046 yards and 11 touchdowns – after a freshman season in 2018 that saw plenty of potential but only four catches and one score. He is the first Gardner-Webb receiver to post a 1,000-yard season since All-America Kenny Cook in 2013.

Gathings is part of a dynamic receiving corps returning for the 2020 season at Gardner-Webb. The Runnin' Bulldogs open the regular season on Thursday night, September 3, vs. Limestone in Spangler Stadium.