Rodney Gillis

Position:
Safety
Ht./Wt.:
5-11 / 186
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
High School:
St. Thomas Aquinas

2012 (Junior): Starter at free safety in 13 games. . . finished second on the team with 75 tackles (46 solo) with a team-best five interceptions. . . celebrated his first career start by intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble in season opener vs. Lamar (9/1/12). . . made a career-high 12 tackles at Oklahoma State (9/15/12). . . intercepted a pass in the first three home games (Lamar, FIU & Tulane) and added road picks at ULM (11/3/12) and Florida Atlantic (12/1/12). . . also made 12 tackles at North Texas (10/16/12). . . finished year with a six-tackle effort in New Orleans Bowl win. . . earned second letter.
2011 (Sophomore): Played in 11 games as a reserve in the secondary and on special teams. . . made nine tackles (six solo) during the season, including three on special teams. . . did not play at Oklahoma State and against FIU. . . made a career-high three tackles in the New Orleans Bowl win over San Diego State (12/17). . . had single tackles in six other contests. . . earned first letter.
2010 (Freshman): Did not compete after sustaining a knee injury during spring drills.
2009 (Redshirt): Did not compete during the season. . . spent season recovering from ACL surgery from an injury suffered during spring practice. . . was awarded second redshirt year, and sixth year of eligibility, by the NCAA in the spring of 2013.
2008 (Redshirt): Redshirted, did not play.
High School: Won Florida Class 5A State Championship as a senior. . . played in the Dade-Broward All-Star Game. . . posted 52 tackles, 14 pass break-ups and five interceptions as a senior. . . made 32 tackles, had 10 pass break-ups and notched two picks as a junior.
Personal: Born May 25, 1990 in Pompano Beach, Fla. . . . son of Rocky and Kimberly Gillis. . . has one brother (Roderick) and one sister (Ashley). . . is slated to graduate in December, 2012. . . received his bachelor’s degree in general studies in December, 2012 and is working towards a second degree in criminal justice.