Gattis is an emerging talent who greatly improved his tackling ability during his junior year. Built like a linebacker but blessed with the blazing speed needed to handle deep coverage assignments, he has also proven to be a stellar special teams coverage performer.

Gattis was an all-conference, all-area and all-state selection as a senior at North Durham High School, where he also excelled in track and basketball. Despite playing in only eight games due to an ankle injury, he earned All-American mention from Prep Football Report and was rated the 15th-best prospect in the state of North Carolina by SuperPrep.

In his final year, Gattis helped the team compile an 11-3 record. He recorded 65 tackles with seven pass deflections, five interceptions and a blocked punt, as the team advanced to the third round of the state before falling to eventual state champion, Independence. He was also selected to play in the East-West All-Star game. He also collected 110 tackles and one interception as a junior.

Gattis earned four letters in track. He won the 2002 Class 4-A state championship in the 300-meter hurdles and finished second in the 110-meter hurdles. He clocked a personal best 14.1 seconds in the 110-meter high hurdles and 10.5 in the 100 meters. He ranked seventh nationally in the 60 meters (indoor), garnering Nike All-American, all-state and conference Runner of the Year honors as a junior. He also lettered once in basketball.

After redshirting in 2002 at Wake Forest, Gattis earned Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team honors from The Sporting News as a reserve free safety and special teams coverage leader in 2003. He finished his first varsity season 34 tackles (29 solos) and a pair of forced fumbles.

He took over free safety chores as a sophomore, finishing second on the team with 71 tackles (50 solos) in 2004. Gattis had a sack, 3½ stops behind the line of scrimmage and four pass deflections. He caused two fumbles, recovered three others and intercepted two passes for 43 yards in returns.

Gattis was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2005. He ranked seventh in the nation and tied for the conference lead with a career-high five interceptions for 126 yards in returns. He was one of only three NCAA Division I-A players to return two of those pass thefts for touchdowns during the season. He also finished second on the team with 72 tackles (46 solos). He caused and recovered a fumble and also had seven pass break-ups.

The 2006 All-American honorable mention and All-ACC first-team pick started 13 games. He posted 82 tackles (49 solos) with eight pass deflections and intercepted five passes. He caused and recovered a fumble, adding 5½ stops for losses and made 10 tackles (seven solos) on special teams.

In 48 games for the Demon Deacons, Gattis started 33 contests. He recorded 259 tackles (174 solos) with an 8-yard sack and nine stops for losses of 25 yards. He added 45 tackles (30 solos) and a forced fumble on special teams. He caused six fumbles and recovered five others. Gattis had 12 interceptions for 169 yards in returns (14.1 average) and two touchdowns, adding 19 pass deflections.

Positives: Has a solidly built frame with good upper body muscles, tight waist, hamstrings and calf definition … Reads and reacts with quickness to pre-snap movements and looks instinctive in deep coverage assignments … Demonstrates smooth hip moves, a long stride to cover ground quickly and natural hands to compete with the receiver for the ball … Has quick feet, smooth change-of-direction agility and that second gear needed to close on the ball in a hurry … Capable of generating the acceleration needed to close on plays in front of him and has the flexibility and balance to make plays in lateral pursuit … Does a fine job of taking the plays from the board to the field and is a hard worker with good training habits … Team-oriented and can handle hard coaching … Has the short-area foot quickness to shadow a receiver in man coverage and the burst to run down tailbacks and slot receivers … Does a fine job of scanning the field and reacting to the offense when playing deep in the zone … Makes good body adjustments in both deep and shallow assignments and shows the awareness skills to not get fooled by play-action and misdirection … When playing deep, he shows good consistency in keeping the plays in front of him … Effective at laying back and playing center field, showing good timing to make plays on the ball going for the interception … With his stride, he can cover ground quickly … Has the acceleration and playing speed to get out of his breaks smoothly and covers a lot of ground in a hurry, closing with good urgency when supporting vs. the run … Plays up on the flat route and is a natural hands catcher who appears confident he will defeat his opponent for the ball … Does a fine job of tracking the ball over his shoulders, demonstrating the balance and body control to come back for the off-target throws … In run support, he closes with good urgency to the ball and has a feel for the support lanes, taking good angles to get to the ball … Has the short-area quickness to shadow and trail the receiver, showing smoothness and hip snap to come out of his backpedal with no wasted steps … Sees the field and gets a sharp break on the ball due to his ability to anticipate the quarterback … Shows fine body flexibility and explosive leaping skills to compete for the ball at its high point … Natural hands catcher who does a good job of looking the ball in over his shoulders and securing it before heading up field … Has good plant-and-drive agility, taking proper angles to close on the ball in run support … Plays up on the flat route, doing a fine job of knocking down the pass by competing for the ball in a crowd … Shows very good body adjustments in deep and shallow zone assignments, getting an explosive break on the ball … Smooth in transition, demonstrating the loose hips and change-of-direction agility needed to come out of his pedal and close on the play with urgency … Has the range to get out of his breaks and does a very good job of keeping plays in front of him.

Negatives: Shows toughness to hit hard and wrap, but needs to stay lower in his pads to deliver better force behind his tackles … Plays with good urgency closing on the ball, but needs to use his hands better to protect his body when trying to sift through trash … Will sometimes short arm working near the pile, struggling to shed … Strikes with good force, but is still developing consistency when breaking down, facing up and wrapping … Will get a little reckless in his play at times, especially when competing for the jump ball (needs to reach around and over receivers better to prevent pass interference penalties) … Tends to get his weight back and stay on his heels a bit in his backpedal … Has had some problems shedding blocks, and needs to take better angles to fill … More of a drag-down type and needs to stay low in his pads, as he lacks the raw power to blow opponents up … Must break down, face up and wrap with more consistency.

Compares To: John Lynch, Denver Broncos … Gattis is nowhere near the punishing tackler that the Broncos' defensive back displays, but like Lynch, he relies on positioning and instincts to get to the ball … Gattis has excellent hands for the interception and his stellar play on special teams is a definite asset … His play tapered off late in 2006, but he has good foot quickness and shows the range to make plays on the ball in flight.

2001: Missed several games during his high school senior year with a high ankle sprain.

2006: Missed most of the second half of the Duke game (Sept. 9) after suffering a hip contusion.

Campus: 4.46 in the 40-yard dash (wind-aided) … 4.53 in the 40-yard dash (against the wind) … 385-pound bench press … Bench presses 225 pounds 23 times … 485-pound squat … 318-pound power clean … 36¾-inch vertical jump … 31 5/8-inch arm length … 9-inch hands … Left-handed.

Combine: 4.57 in the 40-yard dash … 1.64 10-yard dash … 2.69 20-yard dash … 4.27 20-yard shuttle … 11.24 60-yard shuttle … 6.72 three-cone drill … 34½-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-1 broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times.

Attended North Durham (N.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Gary Merrill … All-conference, all-area and all-state selection as a senior despite playing in only eight games due to an ankle injury … Earned All-American mention from Prep Football Report and was rated the 15th-best prospect in the state of North Carolina by SuperPrep … In his final year, Gattis helped the team compile an 11-3 record as he recorded 65 tackles with seven pass deflections, five interceptions and a blocked punt … The team advanced to the third round of the state tournament before falling to eventual state champion Independence … Was also selected to play in the East-West All-Star game … Collected 110 tackles and one interception as a junior … Earned four letters in track, winning the 2002 Class 4-A state championship in the 300-meter hurdles and finished second in the 110-meter hurdles … Clocked a personal best 14.1 seconds in the 110-meter high hurdles and 10.5 in the 100 meters … Ranked seventh nationally in 60 meters (indoor), garnering Nike All-American, all-state and conference Runner of the Year honors as a junior … Also lettered once in basketball.

Sociology major … Son of Joyce Gattis and Joseph Gattis, Sr … Born Jan. 15, 1984 in Durham, N.C.