The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Sports / Two former Wildcats get NFL invitation

Two former Wildcats get NFL invitation

May 9, 2018 by Max Preston

Two former football players received a rookie camp invitation from two different NFL teams after the draft.

Linebacker Bryson Gates and wide receiver Carl Whitley both declared for the draft but didn’t hear their names called in the seven rounds. Gates, however, received a call from the Oakland Raiders, and Whitley heard from the New Orleans Saints, inviting them to their respective rookie camps as undrafted free agents.

The NFL began its rookie camp practices May 5 and will continue to have a transition process until late July, when training camp starts.

Gates and Whitley are only trying out for the teams, with the goal of making the actual rosters for training camp by late July.

They will have until July 22 to make the team and sign on before they are otherwise cut from the 53-man roster.

In Gates’ four years as a Wildcat, he made 142 career tackles, 9.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for a loss.

As a junior college transfer, Whitley spent two full seasons with ACU. He hauled in 52 receptions for 681 yards and seven touchdowns.

When reaching out to Gates and Whitley for a comment this week, we were unable to receive a response from them.

Filed Under: Sports

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats gear up for conference realignment

  • University, men’s golf coach part ways after 12 seasons

  • Abilene native inspires next generation of baseball players

About Max Preston

Max Preston is a senior convergence journalism major from Amarillo.

I wouldn’t be the sports director if I didn’t love sports. I’m involved in Galaxy social club and like being social. I’m here for a good time not a long time.

You are here: Home / Sports / Two former Wildcats get NFL invitation

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats gear up for conference realignment

  • University, men’s golf coach part ways after 12 seasons

  • Abilene native inspires next generation of baseball players

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
9 May

BREAKING: The 2026 teacher of the year is Dr. Clint Buck, assistant professor of accounting in the College of Business Administration.

Reply on Twitter 2053158226070257771 Retweet on Twitter 2053158226070257771 Like on Twitter 2053158226070257771 2 Twitter 2053158226070257771
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

BREAKING NEWS: James Bradshaw and Maddie Grace Fridge are the 2026 Mr. ACU and Miss ACU.

Reply on Twitter 2051110655172784350 Retweet on Twitter 2051110655172784350 Like on Twitter 2051110655172784350 4 Twitter 2051110655172784350

Optimist on Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue Error: No posts available for this Facebook ID

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2026 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved