Antonio Gates Jr. hauls in TD on first career catch for MSU
Antonio Gates Jr. arrived in East Lansing with high expectations for Michigan State. The son of NFL tight end legend Antonio Gates, the young wide receiver arrived as a 4-star prospect and the No. 9 in-state recruit for the class of 2022 per the 247 Sports Composite.
In Week 2, Gates was able to haul in his first catch, and it was a beautiful grab for a score. The play started with QB Noah Kim running play-action in the backfield.
The end result of the misdirection resulted in some one-on-one matchups down the field, including Gates on his defender. The Spartan had a step on his man to the inside, and Kim’s throw was a beautiful bomb with plenty of air to run under it.
The score went for 45 yards on Gates’ first career grab:
TOUCHDOWN (again) 😉
@AntoniogatesJr1 with a 45-yard TD 💪 pic.twitter.com/AgnaUffJTi— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 9, 2023
Overall, 9 different Spartans recorded a reception in the 45-14 win over Richmond. Tre Mosley led the way with 5 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, but Gates’ grab is noteworthy. Hopefully, he’s able to add more playing time and touchdowns to his tally as a freshman.