Photo Matt A. Brown
Photo: Chris Gocong (#53) sheds a blocker in the hunt for another quarterback sack. Gocong will enter the 2006 draft in April.

Wins Buck Buchanan Award
Cal Poly senior defensive end Chris Gocong, a 2001 Carpinteria High School graduate, has made a lasting impression in the Cal Poly football program and with opposing quarterbacks.

Gocong’s school record breaking 23.5 sacks, 98 tackles (46 solo) and 31 tackles for losses earned him the Buck Buchanan Award for the most outstanding defensive football player in division I-AA. Gocong accepted the award at the 19th annual division I-AA College Football Awards in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Dec. 15.

Last year Gocong was runner-up for the Buchanan Award to teammate Jordan Beck, who was drafted and later signed by the Atlanta Falcons in the third-round of last year’s NFL draft.

Gocong will try to follow in Beck’s footsteps and hopes to be drafted in the 2006 NFL Draft in April.

“I always wanted to play in the NFL, but never thought I had a chance until Jordan got drafted,” said Gocong.

With the help of his parents, Bruce and Julie Kennedy, Gocong signed with agent Michael Hoffman. He has been invited to an NFL combine in Indiana in February, which will include a 40-yard dash, bench press, broad jump, vertical jump, mental evaluation and a physical from all 32 teams.

Gocong finished his career at Cal Poly with 42 sacks, just 1.5 sacks away from the school record (Tom Carey 1985-88), according to the schools Web site.

As a Warrior he posted a combined 330 tackles in his junior and senior seasons, was a two-time All-CIF and All-TVL linebacker, a two-time all league discus and shot putter and set a school record in the discus (183-3).

“He had no idea how good he was,” said Warrior football coach John Hazelton, who coached Gocong. “He lived in the weight room and loved it. He truly loves playing and preparing to play (football).”

“It all started at CHS, in the weight room, lifting with everyone. It’s (that) work ethic that brought me to the level that I’m at. It takes a lot of work to be good.”

He began his career at Cal Poly as a nose guard his freshman year, then red shirted in 2002. His stats skyrocketed after moving from nose to defensive end in 2004. He led the nation in sacks with 17.5, was second in tackles for losses (21.5) and garnered many accolades.

This season he made the Walter Camp Foundation All-American team for the second year, the Sports Network All-American team for the second time, was the All-Great West Conference defensive player of the year, made the AFCA division I-AA coaches All-American team, the CollegeSportsReport.com All-divisions I-AA team, Don Hansen’s The Football Gazette All-Northwest Region first team, the 2005 Football Gazette All-American first team and was the defensive lineman of the year by the online service published by Don Hansen.

Gocong will end his collegiate career playing in the Las Vegas All-American Classic on Saturday, Jan. 14.

According to the All-American Classic’s Web site, the game’s objective is to “provide the best quality graduating seniors a chance to showcase their talents in front of professional scouts to prolong their football playing careers.”

Two Warrior football players have been signed to NFL contracts, Ken Duncan and Nick Mullahey.

Duncan was drafted in the 17th round of the 1971 draft by the Minnesota Vikings, but was signed by the Green Bay Packers where he played two games as a punter. According to the Warrior Hall of Fame, he also played for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mullahey signed a contract with the Steelers and went to training camp, but never played, according to Lou Panizzon, a former coach and athletics director at CHS.

Before his senior season Gocong was named to the Consensus Draft Services (condraft.com) All-Underappreciated third team. The “underappreciated” team was created to define good players from small schools who don’t get a lot of publicity and acknowledgement.

But Gocong’s incredible season placed him on the top 100 players for the 2006 draft by condraft.com; he was the only division I-AA player.

Steve Martin, an administrator for the Web site, said, “He has the physical tools to be a first day guy. Now that doesn’t mean he will be a first day guy, but fifth round is very realistic.”

In a posting on the site, Martin also wrote, “(Chris) is undoubtedly the best defensive football player NOT playing (division) I-A football.”

To the kids from small-town Carpinteria dreaming of being in the NFL one day, “You have as much chance as any player if you work hard, Reggie Bush doesn’t sit around, he works hard. No matter how small of a school (you go to),” said Gocong.

As for being in the NFL draft, “It’s surreal. The draft is a few months away, it’s a weird feeling,” said Gocong. “Just having the hard work pay off, not financially, but playing in an NFL stadium, having my family watch me on T.V., on Monday Night Football, that’s what I look forward too.”

“I believe I can be an impact player (in the NFL).”