William Gay life and biography

PRO (48-18/4-0): Signed his one-year contract tender on April 16, 2009…has played in every game in his first three seasons, starting 14 of them in 2009…selected as the second of two fifth-round picks (170th overall) by the Steelers in the 2007 NFL Draft.

2009 (16-14): Started 14 games at CB…had 16 pass breakups…also recorded 91 tackles and one sack…9/10 vs. Tennessee: Made his fifth career start at CB…finished with six solo tackles and one pass defense…9/20 at Chicago: Made his second consecutive start at CB…recorded a career-high 10 solo tackles…9/27 at Cincinnati: Made his third consecutive start at CB…recorded six solo tackles and one pass defense…10/4 vs. San Diego: Made his fourth consecutive start at CB…recorded four solo tackles along with three pass break ups…10/11 at Detroit: Made his fifth consecutive start at CB…recorded eight solo tackles, 1.0 sacks and two pressures…10/18 vs. Cleveland: Made his sixth consecutive start at CB…recorded on solo tackle…10/25 vs. Minnesota: Made his seventh consecutive start at CB…recorded 11 solo tackles and one pass breakup…11/9 at Denver: Made his eighth consecutive start at CB…recorded four solo tackles and two pass breakups…11/15 vs. Cincinnati: Made his ninth consecutive start at CB…recorded eight solo tackles and three pass breakups…11/22 at Kansas City: Made his 10th consecutive start at CB…recorded three solo tackles…11/29 at Baltimore: Made his 11th consecutive start at CB…recorded 12 solo tackles…12/6 vs. Oakland: Made his 12th consecutive start at CB…recorded five solo tackles and one pass breakup before leaving the game with a head injury in the fourth quarter…12/10 at Cleveland: Made his 13th consecutive start at CB…recorded three solo tackles…12/20 vs. Green Bay: Made his 14th consecutive start at CB…recorded six solo tackles and two pass breakups…12/27 vs. Baltimore: Played in his 47th consecutive game as a contributor on defense…recorded three solo tackles…1/3 at Miami: Played in his 48th consecutive game as a contributor on special teams and defense…recorded one solo tackle, one pressure and one pass breakup on defense…recorded one assisted tackle on special teams.

2008 (16-4/3-0): Played in all 16 regular-season games for the second consecutive season, making four starts...established career highs with 38 tackles (34 solo) and 11 pass defenses...recorded the first interception of his career to secure the AFC North Division title at Baltimore on December 14...had nine tackles on special teams...played in all three postseason games and had one solo postseason tackle... finished with one postseason tackle on special teams and recovered a fumbled punt against the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Game...9/7 vs. Houston: Played in his 17th consecutive game and registered two solo tackles...also had one solo tackle on special teams...9/14 at Cleveland: Played in his 18th consecutive game as a reserve defensive back...contributed on special teams...9/21 at Philadelphia: Played in his 19th consecutive game as a reserve defensive back...finished with five tackles (four solo) and one pass defense...9/29 vs. Baltimore: Played in his 20th consecutive game as a reserve defensive back and as a contributor on special teams...10/5 at Jacksonville: Played in his 21st consecutive game as a reserve defensive back and as a contributor on special teams...recorded one solo tackle on special teams...10/19 at Cincinnati: Played in his 22nd consecutive game...saw extensive action in the secondary after injuries to Troy Polamalu and Bryant McFadden...recorded two tackles (one solo) and one pass defense...recorded one tackle on special teams...10/26 vs. New York Giants: Played in his 23rd consecutive game...finished with two solo tackles and one pass defense...11/3 at Washington: Played in his 24th consecutive game...finished with three solo tackles and two pass defenses...had two solo tackles on special teams...11/9 vs. Indianapolis: Played in his 25th consecutive game...recorded two solo tackles and one pass defense...11/16 vs. San Diego: Made his first career start at CB...finished with three solo tackles...11/20 vs. Cincinnati: Made his second consecutive start at CB...finished with a career-high six tackles (four solo) and one pass defense... had one solo tackle on special teams...11/30 at New England: Made his third consecutive start at CB...recorded four solo tackles and had two pass defenses...recorded one solo tackle on special teams...12/7 vs. Dallas: Made his fourth consecutive start at CB...finished with four solo tackles and two pass defenses...had one solo tackle on special teams...12/14 at Baltimore: Played in his 30th consecutive game...had one solo tackle...registered his first career interception at the end of the game to secure the Steelers’ victory...12/21 at Tennessee: Played in his 31st consecutive game...finished with two solo tackles...had one assisted tackle on special teams...12/28 vs. Cleveland: Played in his 32nd consecutive game...recorded two solo tackles...AFC Divisional Game 1/11 vs. San Diego: Played in his second consecutive postseason game...recovered a fumble on special teams...AFC Championship Game 1/18 vs. Baltimore: Played in his third consecutive postseason game as a reserve defensive back and special teams contributor...Super Bowl XLIII 2/1 vs. Arizona: Played in his fourth consecutive postseason game...made one solo tackle...had one solo tackle on special teams.

2007 (16-0/1-0): Played in all 16 contests and the AFC Wild Card Game against Jacksonville as a reserve DB and special teams contributor…recovered a fumble and defended a pass during his NFL debut in Week 1 at Cleveland…finished with five tackles, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery…tied for third on the team with 11 special teams tackles...9/9 at Cleveland: Saw action at CB in his first NFL game…picked up one fumble recovery and added one pass defense...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Saw action on special teams...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Only action came on special teams where he had two tackles...9/30 at Arizona: Saw limited action on defense and did not register a defensive tackle…had one solo special teams tackle...10/7 vs. Seattle: Saw 19 defensive snaps and registered one special teams tackle…was part of a defensive unit that allowed only 144 total yards, 38 rushing yards, 106 passing yards and only eight first downs…10/21 at Denver: Saw 13 defensive snaps and registered his first two NFL tackles…also saw action on special teams and added one solo tackle…part of a defensive unit that allowed the Denver running backs to gain only 54 rushing yards…10/28 at Cincinnati: Saw extensive playing due to the absence of Ryan Clark and Bryant McFadden but did not register a tackle…11/5 vs. Baltimore: Saw extensive action on special teams and had one solo tackle…also saw action at CB and managed one pass defensed…part of a defensive unit that allowed the Ravens only 104 total yards, with 64 coming on the ground and 40 yards by air…the Baltimore offense managed only five first downs all night...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Saw his only action on special teams and did not register a tackle...11/18 at N.Y. Jets: Saw his only action on special teams and registered one solo tackle...11/26 vs. Miami: Saw action on special teams but did not register a tackle...12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Saw his only action on special teams and did not register a tackle...12/9 at New England: Saw action in his 13th consecutive game…was in on 15 defensive plays and registered one solo tackle...12/16 vs. Jacksonville: Saw limited action on defense and did not register a tackle…12/20 at St. Louis: Saw limited action on defense and did not register a tackle...12/30 at Baltimore: Saw action in his 16th career game and finished with two defensive tackles…also had one solo special teams tackle...AFC WILD CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville: Saw action in his first playoff game but did not register a tackle.

COLLEGE: Played in 46 games, making 36 starts…was a veteran leader in the defensive backfield...talented cover corner. 2006: Selected first-team All-BIG EAST Conference...finished second on the team in tackles with 60...led the team with six interceptions…also had 13 pass break ups... recorded eight tackles against Miami and Pittsburgh...tallied seven stops against Syracuse and West Virginia…helped the Cardinals to a FedEx Orange Bowl victory over Wake Forest. 2005: Started nine games...recorded 20 total tackles...tallied four tackles and a sack versus Florida Atlantic...also forced a fumble...notched three tackles and a pair of breakups against Oregon State...recorded two tackles against Kentucky. 2004: Started 11 games at cornerback...didn't start against Tulane...recorded 21 tackles and four pass breakups...notched four tackles, including one for a loss versus Miami...recorded three tackles in a win over East Carolina...registered two tackles in a 52-21 win over Army...notched two stops in the win over Kentucky. 2003: Named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team...Appeared in 11 games, earning three starts at cornerback ...recorded 33 tackles and led the team with eight passes defensed...made his first collegiate start against Memphis...recorded a career-high eight tackles and a pass break-up against Cincinnati...notched his first interception against USF...recorded four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in his collegiate debut against UTEP...registered four stops against Tulane.

PERSONAL: Rated a three-star prospect by TheInsiders.com and was the nation’s 67th-ranked cornerback coming out of Rickards High (Tallahassee Fla.)...a three-star prospect by Rivals.com who’s the nation’s 46th-ranked cornerback... played quarterback, wide receiver and safety for the Raiders...racked up over 1,200 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior...notched 1,035 yards and seven scores passing, 1,237 yards and 11 scores receiving and 82 tackles, 14 pass breakups and nine interceptions at defensive back as a senior when he was named team co-MVP and earned first team All-Big Bend Area honors...also a standout in track who had been clocked at 4.4 in the 40...is the son of Corine Hall...Full name: William Gay.

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