Joe Gaston Class: RS Senior Hometown: Marietta, Ga. High School: Walton Height / Weight: 5-11 / 190 Position: Safety Birthdate: 07/12/1984

AT TECH: A solid defensive back and good special teams player who was plagued by injuries... missed the first half of the 2007 season with a hamstring injury... missed all of 2006 and took a redshirt because of a knee injury suffered in spring practice... underwent reconstructive surgery... was one of Tech's top special teams tacklers his first three seasons.

2007: Overcame a nagging hamstring injury to play in seven games... played well in his final college game -- the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho... had three total tackles, one solo tackle and he forced a fumble.

2006: Missed the entire season after suffering a knee injury in spring practice.

2005: Made 14 tackles on the season . . . Saw his most extensive action in the secondary in the Emerald Bowl against Utah, when he made a career-best four tackles, and in Tech's win at Duke, when he had three tackles, including one tackle for a seven-yard loss.

2004: Had a season-high three tackles and an interception in Tech's victory over Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl . . . Also recovered blocked punt (by Xavier McGuire) against the Orange, giving Tech the ball at the Syracuse 14-yard line to set up a touchdown . . . Totalled seven tackles on the season . . . Missed two games with a knee injury.

2003: Made nine tackles, including six primary hits, all on special teams . . . Season-high three tackles versus Florida State . . . Caused a fumble in Tech's win over Vanderbilt.

HIGH SCHOOL: Named to Atlanta-Journal Constitution's Top 50 in Georgia . . . Honorable mention all-region selection by PrepStar . . . First-team all-Cobb County and honorable mention all-state selection (Class 5A) by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Also earned all-county honors as a junior and honorable mention recognition as a sophomore . . . Ranked the No. 37 prospect in Georgia by BorderWars . . . Made 80 tackles and four interceptions as a senior, when he also scored 13 touchdowns as a running back/kick returner . . . Honored as Back of the Week by the Atlanta Touchdown Club . . . Credited with 120 tackles and six interceptions as a junior . . . Four-year letterman for coach Ed Dudley at Walton High.

PERSONAL: Full name is Joseph Harling Gaston . . . Born July 12, 1984 . . . Parents are Bruce Gaston and Betty Gaston . . . Majoring in management.

CAREER STATISTICS
Year	G-GS	P-A	Tkl	TFL	Sck	FC	FR	Int	PB
2003	13-0	6-3	9	0	0	1	0	0	0
2004	10-0	3-4	7	0	0	0	0	1-0	0
2005	11-0	7-7	14	1-7	1-7	0	0	0	0
2007	8-0	2-1	3	0	0	1	0	0	0
Total	42-0	18-15	33	1-7	1-7	2	0	1-0	0

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 4 vs. Utah, 2005
Interceptions: 1 vs. Syracuse, 2004