Cannon Gibbs

Height:
6-2
Weight:
228
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Brandon, Miss.
High School:
Northwest Rankin
Prev School:
Jones JC
Major:
Management

Expected to fully bounce back from an injury and subsequent rehabilitation which sidelined him from contact work during the entire 2018 spring practice period … Will be cleared “full-go” entering preseason camp according to team medical personnel … Currently listed as a top backup at the “mike” linebacking position, but coaches expect a competitive battle with Bruce Bivens to remain ongoing throughout the duration of the season … Flexibility also will allow movement to the “will” slot should a depth-seeking personnel move be warranted … Quickly became a fan and media favorite after signing with the Pirates’ program in December, 2016 and participating in spring drills … One of the more active contributors to ECU’s community relations program.

2017: Played in all 12 games during initial year on Pirates’ roster … Made six starts – Virginia Tech, Connecticut, USF, Temple, UCF and Houston … Credited with 50 (21 solo) tackles, which ranked fifth on the unit … Logged at least one stop in nine outings and had multiple hits on eight occasions … Also recorded a half tackle for loss (Virginia Tech) and a batted pass (BYU) … Additionally, picked off a pass against the Cougars (25-yard return) … Selected as the defensive unit’s “Newcomer-of-the-Year” (coaches vote) … Posted a career-best 14 tackles to help ECU to a 41-38 victory against Connecticut during the AAC opener in East Hartford … Other notable outings include a nine-stop effort vs. the Hokies, seven hits vs. USF and five tackles vs. BYU … Rose level of play during early portion of the schedule, averaging nine stops per game (36 total) from Sept. 16 (VT) to Oct. 7 (Temple) … Slowed by injuries later in the campaign and was limited to only a combined three tackles in the final four contests (Houston, Tulane, Cincinnati and Memphis) … Inked a national letter-of-intent with the Pirates as a mid-year signee on Dec. 14, 2016 … Enrolled in classes in January and competed during spring drills (seven tackles in the Purple-Gold Game on April 22).

Junior College: Led the Bobcat defense with 68 tackles (40 solo), 11.0 TFLs and 6.0 sacks as a sophomore ... Also logged one fumble recovery for coach Steve Buckley ... Helped JJC to a 6-3 record in 2016 ... Earned first-team Mississippi Association of Junior and Community Colleges (MACJC) honors ... Also recruited by Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana Tech out of junior college ... Netted 22 stops and 2.5 tackles for lost yardage in nine games as a freshman in 2015.

High School: Put together an impressive prep career at Northwest Rankin High School ... A three-year letterman who tallied 291 career tackles, 25.0 TFLs and 8.0 sacks ... Earned all-region honors as a junior and senior ... An all-state performer and team captain for coach Tyler Peterson in 2014 ... Recorded over 100 tackles and six sacks each during senior and junior campaigns ... Registered 50 stops and scored one TD as a sophomore ... Also earned additional letters in soccer (four) and baseball (three) at Northwest Rankin ... Excelled in the classroom with a 4.0 grade point average.

Personal: Full name is Cannon Jennings Gibbs ... Born at Brandon, Miss. ... Son of Mike and Kathy Gibbs ... Brother was an All-America football standout at Delta (Miss.) State and currently serves on the Arkansas State staff ... Hobbies include hunting … Major is management … An Honor Roll selection for work in the classroom during the spring and fall of 2017, as well as the spring semester of 2018.