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Ridgeview High names Charles Gilbert first Football Hall of Famer

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 11/24/20

ORANGE PARK - Former Ridgeview High sports star Charles Gilbert, notably one of the fastest wide receivers to play in Clay County football, was feted Friday night as the honorary coin toss guy at the …

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Ridgeview High names Charles Gilbert first Football Hall of Famer


Posted

ORANGE PARK - Former Ridgeview High sports star Charles Gilbert, notably one of the fastest wide receivers to play in Clay County football, was feted Friday night as the honorary coin toss guy at the Panthers dramatic come-from-behind playoff win over a rugged Tavares High School team at Ridgeview High School. Gilbert, a 2006 football standout for the Panthers, was named the first inductee into the Ridgeview Football Hall of Fame.

“It’s kind of cool to be here on the home field to watch a playoff game,” said Gilbert, now 33, married to Ashley with two children, Kimara, 8 months old, and Naomi, 7, and runs operations for the Department of Juvenile Justice. “I have had some pretty good games out here back in the day. It’s a great honor to be the first one here having been the first NFL player from here.”

Gilbert, a 2006 Ridgeview High graduate and a lightning fast offensive weapon under then coach Tom Macpherson, who is now at Orange Park High, finished his season senior with 20 touchdowns with most from passer Joe Everett.

“Joe was a big ball player, went to Ball State and did his thing there,” said Gilbert. “He and I had the nine route as our go-to play. He’d peek over, tap his head and then just throw it up for me to chase it. We called it Florida, a fade route.”

Gilbert also has his name on the Ridgeview High track and field record board in the 100 meters and was a part of three consecutive basketball district titles.

“I’m on the board over there,” said Gilbert, who caught 88 passes for over 1600 yards while at Ridgeview with 20 scores. “I ran the 400 once in college, I think a 47, but the 100 was my event and set a school record of 10.48.”

Gilbert later attended Concordia University-

St. Paul in NCAA Division II where he led the nation in averaging nearly 30 yards per kickoff return while earning All-America honors. Gilbert’s 10.48 100 speed translated to a nation leading 4.26 40 yard split performed for NFL scouts.

In his two seasons at Concordia, Gilbert had 43 catches with 11 scores in 2010 and 46 catches for 1,068 yards with 14 touchdowns. Gilbert’s longest touchdown pass was a 77 yarder in 2011 against Minot State.

“I loved the kickoff because my first experience in a Concordia uniform was a kickoff return against Minot that I returned 85 yards,” said Gilbert. “Kickoffs are great because you are sitting back there and, knowing I had speed, I would find the seam and just go.”

From Concordia, Gilbert got an invite to the 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars summer workouts and performed admirably with his combination of speed, hands and route running. Gilbert had a brief stint with the St. Louis Rams also in the NFL, was released and finished his career with the Jacksonville Sharks where Gilbert was instrumental in the Sharks Arena Bowl National Championship final with two key catches late in the game.

Gilbert recalled is best game was a West Nassau contest that he caught six balls for over 200 yards and three scores.

“The longest was a 75 yarder against West Nassau,” said Gilbert. “I was double and triple team covered most times once they figured I could run and go. That’s when Joe when do his thing and take the ball downfield. They couldn’t cover both of us.”

Gilbert remembered a game against Clay that he talks most about in conversations with friends.

“They had a guy at defensive back named Tommy that was doing a lot of talking before the game,”said Gilbert. “Fourth play of the game, I returned a punt return for a score and I had a diving catch in the end zone against him.”

Not all of Gilbert’s memories were touchdowns and he remembered the nightmare pass that still haunts his football talk.

“I was wide open in the middle of the field against Lee High School on the first play of the game and I dropped a post corner,” said Gilbert. “I came back to the huddle and Joe said we were good and he kept coming to me. We won 48-6.”

In the NFL, Gilbert remembered his first time in an NFL stadium in a Jaguar uniform guys like Justin Blackmon.

“I ended my career with a torn PCL, the tendon that holds you knee cap together,” said Gilbert. “I’m down to a 4.8 40 now.”

Gilbert recalled that his path to the NFL may have been different had he took his studies a little more seriously.

“If I would have focused on school, taken the JUCO route and go Division I from there, I may have fared better,” said Gilbert. “I first went to Western Carolina, but my grades didn’t fall through. Lucky for me, the head coach there married the daughter of the Concordia coach.”

At Concordia, Gilbert’s best game was a six catch game for 190 yards and three scores.

His NFL heroes were Hall of Fame wide receivers Randy Moss and Chris Carter; both Minnesota Vikings players.

Gilbert’s parents are Charles and Dolores Gilbert of Green Cove Springs.