Skip To Main Content

Related News

Gore Makes Most of Opportunity in KC; Set for AFC Championship Game

Gore Makes Most of Opportunity in KC; Set for AFC Championship Game

Football Jan 29
MONROE, La. – Kansas City first-year running back Derrick Gore, who led ULM in rushing in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and '18, has made appearances in playoff victories over Pittsburgh and Buffalo and now stands one win away from a trip to Super Bowl LVI. The Chiefs play host to Cincinnati in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 30 (2 p.m. CT kickoff on CBS).
 
After originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019, Gore's journey to the NFL has been a lesson in perseverance. He spent time on the practice squads for both the Chargers (2019 and 2020) and Washington (2019). Gore had been signed and released on five different occasions before joining Kansas City in February of 2021.
 
"I'm not surprised by what he's accomplished in his first season in the NFL," said current ULM offensive coordinator Matt Kubik, who helped recruit Gore to Monroe, Louisiana. "I knew he had the talent, work ethic and knowledge to play at this level. His football IQ is off the charts. Derrick wasn't the fastest or quickest running back, but whatever he might lack physically, he more than made up for with his knowledge of the game.
 
"We're all so proud of Derrick because he simply wasn't going to be denied the opportunity to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL, and now, he's preparing to play in the AFC Championship Game. His journey is one of the feel-good stories in the NFL this season."
 
Gore is attempting to become the first ULM alum to play in a Super Bowl since defensive back Chris Harris, who started at strong safety for Chicago against Indianapolis on Feb. 4, 2007 (Super Bowl XLI in Dolphins Stadium). Harris recorded four tackles and intercepted Peyton Manning in the Bears' 29-17 loss to the Colts.
 
In just his second year as an NFL head coach, former ULM quarterback Doug Pederson led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII (Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis).
 
The 5-foot-10, 207-pound Gore has appeared in 11 games for Kansas City this season and ranks fourth on the team in rushing with 51 carries for 256 yards (5.0 avg.) and two touchdowns. He has produced 12 first-down runs. Gore also has eight receptions for 105 yards (13.1 avg.), including three first-down grabs.
 
At Denver in Week 18, he rushed seven times for 30 yards while playing a season-high 24 offensive snaps.
 
He accounted for a season-high 104 yards from scrimmage in Week 16 against Pittsburgh. Gore had a season-best 12 carries for 43 yards and caught three passes for 61 yards.
 
Gore rushed nine times for a season-high 66 yards (7.3 avg.), including a 51-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14. His 51-yard gain is the longest rush by a Chief this season. He also had two catches for 23 yards.
 
In a Week 8 20-17 victory over the New York Giants, he rushed 11 times for 48 yards and scored his first career touchdown. Gore capped off an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run in the second quarter that gave the Chiefs a 14-7 lead.
 
He made his NFL debut with 10 special teams appearances in Week 6 at Washington.
 
A native of Syracuse, New York, Gore spent his freshman year at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College before joining the Alabama roster as an invited walk-on in 2015-16. He transferred to ULM and closed out his collegiate career by starting 24 consecutive games at running back.
 
A two-year letterman for the Warhawks from 2017-18, Gore rushed for 1,247 career yards (4.2 avg.) and 12 TDs. He recorded four career 100-yard rushing games and added 34 career receptions for 254 yards (7.5 avg.) and one score.
 
Gore made an immediate impact as a junior in 2017, gaining a team-best 585 rushing yards on 164 attempts and scoring six rushing TDs. He ran 18 times for 103 yards in ULM's 52-45 victory over App State, including a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
 
As a fifth-year senior in 2018, Gore carried 131 times for a career-best 662 yards (5.1 avg.) and six TDs. He posted three 100-yard rushing games in 2018: 21 rushes for 104 yards against Southeastern Louisiana, 16 carries for a career-high 147 yards at Coastal Carolina and 19 attempts for 114 yards against Georgia Southern.
 
"From the moment Derrick Gore stepped on campus, we all realized he was the true definition of a pro, in terms of his work ethic and how he approached his craft," Kubik said. "He already possessed that NFL mentality. Derrick was extremely organized and he had a daily plan how to improve his skill set. He'd schedule extra workouts and go straight to the training room to hop in the cold tub or do exercises to improve on his flexibility. Derrick was fun to watch and it was incredible how his work ethic rubbed off on his teammates.
 
"Derrick left Alabama because he was looking for an opportunity for more playing time, so he could showcase his abilities. Here at ULM, he knew that he'd have the opportunity to play against top competition every year. ULM not only plays against some of the top Power 5 programs, but we play in one of the best Group of 5 conferences in the country. If a player has the talent and work ethic, NFL scouts will find you. Derrick created a buzz with the NFL scouts because they had all heard about his remarkable work ethic and how it had impacted his teammates."
 
Derrick Gore first career TD vs NY Giants 2021
 
 
Print Friendly Version