Rampage Getting A Kick Out of Gatto

Published on November 5, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


The Grand Rapids Rampage signed former AFL All-Rookie kicker Nick Gatto to a one-year deal today. Terms were not disclosed. Gatto is known as one of the toughest kickers in the AFL as his 15 touchdown-saving tackles over his first two seasons rank third among kickers in the league.

The 2004 season will be Gatto's third in the Arena Football League. Gatto began his AFL career with the Orlando Predators in 2002, where he was named to the AFL's All-Rookie Team despite playing just six games. During the 2002 season, Gatto connected on 73.3% of his extra points and 40% of his field goals with a long of 47. He also recorded five solo touchdown-saving tackles.

Gatto stepped in for the final nine games of 2003 with the Detroit Fury. With the Fury, he hit on 41-of-48 PATs and 5-of-9 field goals. In the month of May, Gatto hit 20-of-22 PATs and was a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals. He also recorded four solo and two assisted touchdown-saving tackles, and recovered a fumble. Earlier in the season, Gatto saw duty as the emergency kicker for the Chicago Rush and Dallas Desperadoes for four games. In those games, Gatto hit 16-of-18 PATs, connected on 1-of-4 field goals (two misses were over 50 yards) and collected five solo tackles. His 10 tackles in just 13 games were the most by a kicker in 2003, and his 15 stops since 2002 are tops among kickers during that same time.

After two seasons at Blinn Junior College in Texas, Gatto transferred to Arkansas State University (1999-2000), where he handled field goals, PATs and kickoffs. He was 9-of-12 in field goals his senior year, leading the team in scoring with 51 total points. Gatto was 24-of-28 on PATs and 8-of-12 in field goals during his junior season and 31-of-32 on extra points. He finished his career at Arkansas State 17-of-24 on field goals and 54-of-59 on PATs.

Gatto became the first player missing a limb to play in the Arena Football League (he was born without his right arm). He was recommended to the Predators by Miami Dolphins special teams coach Doug Blevins, who tutored Gatto in his kicking school in Ft. Lauderdale. Gatto majored in political science at Arkansas State, making the Dean's List and Athletic Director's Honor Roll during the spring of 1999 and 2000. He participated in football, basketball, track and baseball at Klein High School. Gatto averaged 4.49 second 40-yard dash during testing for pro scouts, but has been timed as fast as 4.39. He squats 405-lbs., and has bench pressed more than 300-lbs. and has 32-inch vertical leap.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from November 5, 2003


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