Across the country, when many people think of Ohio State, the first thing that comes to their mind is, “Football!” It is sometimes easy to forget that the players we see on ESPN are also students, who face a number of challenges, demands, and pressures. Some successfully manage the pressure and excel, while others can’t handle it. ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? is proud to feature a true Ohio State success story, wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who graduates this year with a bachelor of arts in philosophy.

Gonzalez is a sure handed, speedy receiver who specializes in clutch catches. Gonzalez became a household name to Ohio State fans after his acrobatic 26-yard catch set up the game-winning score with 37 seconds to play in the fall 2005 big game against rival University of Michigan in Michigan. His 2006 season was spectacular, with 49 receptions and a total of 723 yards, as Gonzalez played a critical role in Ohio State’s undefeated regular season. Gonzalez decided to pursue his dream of playing professional football, and was drafted in the first round of the NFL by the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts.

Yet Anthony did not give up his academic goals to pursue his athletic ones. Gonzalez also earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. In order to have these honors, a student must be a starter or important reserve, be nominated by his or her sports director and also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20. Gonzalez said, “Both school and athletics must be crucially important in order to excel at both. This is not unlike anything that people excel at in the world.” González hopes to attend law school someday, and is interested in labor and corporate law.

Gonzalez’s father, Eduardo, came to the United States from Cuba in 1965, and his mother Jenna’s grandparents came to the United States from Germany. Anthony commented, “My heritage has always been a very important part of who I am and how I act. Our family is very proud of where we come from. ”At Ohio State, his success on and off the field was a combination of the impact of many different people. Gonzalez said, “I don’t think you can attribute the development of a person to one individual. There have been many different people that have shaped my development here at OSU. These people include, but are not limited to, my entire family, my coaches, and teammates.” As to how he felt about his time at Ohio State, Gonzalez answered, “I have had a great experience, which I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I have gotten to do and see things that I never would have otherwise been able to do and see without Ohio State and the football team.” When asked about his legacy, Gonzalez stated, “I would always like to be known as a person who tried to figure out what was right and had the courage to follow through.”

The ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? staff and the entire Buckeye Nation congratulate Anthony on his graduation and wish him the best in his NFL career and all of his future endeavors. ¡Buena suerte, Anthony!