Michael Gasperson
Encyclopedia
Michael Gasperson is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles
for one season in 2007
. He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
at San Diego.
in Salinas, California
and earned the school's Outstanding Senior Athlete award in his senior year. In addition to playing baseball, basketball and soccer as a kid, he was also a competitive swimmer.
at the University of San Diego
under current San Francisco 49ers
headcoach Jim Harbaugh
, brother of the then-Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh, who is currently the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens
. In 2002, Gasperson received first-team All-Pioneer Football League honors after hauling in a team-high 57 receptions for 907 yd and 10 TDs. During the 2002 regular season game against Valparaiso Gasperson set a USD and PFL record with five touchdown
s.
Over three seasons Gasperson accounted for 116 receptions, 1,894 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He was named to the Sports Network's I-AA Mid-Major All-America Team in 2004. He also earned team MVP honors.
, Gasperson was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
as a free agent
. A big-bodied receiver, Gasperson spent the majority of the 2005 season
on the Eagles practice squad before being allocated to play for the Cologne Centurions
in NFL Europe
that following spring.
After spending time playing for Cologne, Gasperson returned to the United States to continue his involvement with the Eagles during the 2006
and 2007 seasons
. On December 19, 2007, Gasperson was moved up from the Eagles practice squad and placed on their active roster. This came after injuries were suffered by both Matt Schobel
and L. J. Smith.
Gasperson's regular season NFL debut came against the New Orleans Saints
in week 16; the Eagles defeated the New Orleans Saints
38-23. Gasperson recorded one incomplete pass after dropping a ball thrown to him in the flat by Donovan McNabb
in the game. Later in the game Gasperson caught, and downed, a punt for the Eagles.
On January 2, 2008, Gasperson was re-signed to a three year contract with the Eagles. He was released during final cuts on August 30, 2008.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for one season in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at San Diego.
Early years
Gasperson was a four-sport letterman at Palma High SchoolPalma High School
Palma High School is a grade 7-12 Catholic boys school located in Salinas, California. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey, its motto is "Palma Merenti," which translates in English as "Palms to the Victor."-History:...
in Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
and earned the school's Outstanding Senior Athlete award in his senior year. In addition to playing baseball, basketball and soccer as a kid, he was also a competitive swimmer.
College career
Gasperson played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
under current San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
headcoach Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
, brother of the then-Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh, who is currently the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. In 2002, Gasperson received first-team All-Pioneer Football League honors after hauling in a team-high 57 receptions for 907 yd and 10 TDs. During the 2002 regular season game against Valparaiso Gasperson set a USD and PFL record with five touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
Over three seasons Gasperson accounted for 116 receptions, 1,894 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He was named to the Sports Network's I-AA Mid-Major All-America Team in 2004. He also earned team MVP honors.
Professional career
After being undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
, Gasperson was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. A big-bodied receiver, Gasperson spent the majority of the 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
on the Eagles practice squad before being allocated to play for the Cologne Centurions
Cologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
in NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
that following spring.
After spending time playing for Cologne, Gasperson returned to the United States to continue his involvement with the Eagles during the 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
and 2007 seasons
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. On December 19, 2007, Gasperson was moved up from the Eagles practice squad and placed on their active roster. This came after injuries were suffered by both Matt Schobel
Matt Schobel
Matthew Thomas Schobel is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian....
and L. J. Smith.
Gasperson's regular season NFL debut came against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in week 16; the Eagles defeated the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
38-23. Gasperson recorded one incomplete pass after dropping a ball thrown to him in the flat by Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
in the game. Later in the game Gasperson caught, and downed, a punt for the Eagles.
On January 2, 2008, Gasperson was re-signed to a three year contract with the Eagles. He was released during final cuts on August 30, 2008.