2021 Football Roster
Roster
Gates, Elijah
DL
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDE
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/ FootballDB
/ FootballDE
/ FootballWR
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballH
/ FootballDB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballQB
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/ FootballDB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballH
/ FootballDB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballH
/ FootballDB
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/ FootballQB
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/ FootballDB
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/ FootballH
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballH
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/ FootballDB
/ FootballK
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDB
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/ FootballDB
/ FootballDE
/ FootballDL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballP
/ FootballDL
/ FootballDB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLS
/ FootballLB
/ FootballK
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballP
/ FootballLB
/ FootballDL
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/ FootballK
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/ FootballOL
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/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballDT
/ FootballOL
/ FootballLB
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
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Jersey Number 2
Elijah Gates
- Position:
- DB
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 190
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Pasadena, Calif.
- High School:
- Buena Park HS
- Prev School:
- UCLA
Bio
2022 (SENIOR*): Appeared in seven games … started in five … suffered an injury at New Mexico (Oct. 22) … recorded 34 tackles (26 solo) … had 1.0 tackles for loss … had a sack … had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … added two broken up passes … had a season-high nine tackles at Boise State (Oct. 8) with eight solo stops … was the team’s leading tackler against the Broncos in that contest … was named to the preseason Shrine Bowl 1000 ... utilized the additional year of eligibility approved by the NCAA in the fall of 2020. The NCAA approved a blanket waiver for all 2020 fall sports student-athletes to retain a year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... Fall Academic All-MW.
2021 (SENIOR): Appeared in 10 games, and started nine … quickly became a critical part of the Bulldog defense in his first season, finishing with 38 total tackles (29 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, one interception and six broken up passes … had at least one tackle in every game played … recorded eight multi-tackle games … had a season-high seven stops against UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 18) … had his lone fumble recovery of the season at Wyoming (Oct. 16) … had a season-high two broken up passes at then-No. 13 UCLA … had a season-high 2.0 TFL against Cal Poly (Sept. 11) … had his first interception as a Bulldog in the bowl game … was named the PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player … part of a Bulldog defense who only allowed 20.5 points per game this season, while also holding two opponents scoreless. It was the first time since 2017 that a Fresno State team had multiple shutouts in a season … helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road. It was the first time Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004, and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program.
PRIOR TO FRESNO STATE: Joins the Fresno State football team after spending four seasons at UCLA … earned honor roll recognition in four semesters at UCLA … volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena … was the Pasadena Black History Parade’s Grand Marshall in 2020 ... (2020) Saw action in all 7 games ... played on special teams and as a reserve in the secondary ... tied for the team lead with two interceptions ... picked off passes in games against Arizona and Stanford. (2019) Saw action in 12 games, with four starts (Cincinnati, San Diego State, Oklahoma, USC) ... finished sixth on the team with 37 tackles ... recovered two fumbles ... credited with three pass defenses ... tied for fifth-best in the Pac-12 in fumble recoveries/game (0.17). (2018) Saw action in all 12 games and made six starts in the last six games of the season ... seventh on the team in tackles (39) ... fourth on the team in passes defended (5) ... had a season-high six tackles and made his first career interception in the win over Arizona ... credited with at least three tackles in eight games. (2017) Did not see game action in his first year in the program.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Buena Park High School in Buena Park, California … listed as a four-star recruit by Scout.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com … Scout's No. 5-ranked cornerback prospect in the West and No. 26 on the West 150 List … No. 13 on the Scout.com California 100 List … No. 111 on the Scout 300 List and No. 12 cornerback prospect in the nation … No. 31 recruit on Rivals.com California 100 List and No. 21 cornerback in the nation … No. 232 on the Rivals.com 250 List … PrepStar All-American and No. 275 on the national list … as a senior, he made three interceptions and was named All-CIF Div. III and Freeway League MVP … also returned kicks and caught 27 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns … as a junior, he caught 33 balls for 747 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named Buena Park HS's Rookie of the Year … attended Alemany HS as a sophomore and freshman … named Co-MVP Defensive Player as a sophomore … set a record with nine interceptions, three returned for scores, as a freshman … was named Freshman Defensive MVP.
PERSONAL: From Pasadena, California … son of Greg and Christy Gates … has two older brothers and two older sisters … chose to attend Fresno State because of the culture and winning mindset. He says that the Fresno State history is extensive and has winning in their veins. He liked the Bulldog mentality … is enrolled in the graduate program in Education Curriculum and Instruction at Fresno State … earned his degree in African American studies from UCLA.
2021 (SENIOR): Appeared in 10 games, and started nine … quickly became a critical part of the Bulldog defense in his first season, finishing with 38 total tackles (29 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, one interception and six broken up passes … had at least one tackle in every game played … recorded eight multi-tackle games … had a season-high seven stops against UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 18) … had his lone fumble recovery of the season at Wyoming (Oct. 16) … had a season-high two broken up passes at then-No. 13 UCLA … had a season-high 2.0 TFL against Cal Poly (Sept. 11) … had his first interception as a Bulldog in the bowl game … was named the PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player … part of a Bulldog defense who only allowed 20.5 points per game this season, while also holding two opponents scoreless. It was the first time since 2017 that a Fresno State team had multiple shutouts in a season … helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road. It was the first time Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004, and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program.
PRIOR TO FRESNO STATE: Joins the Fresno State football team after spending four seasons at UCLA … earned honor roll recognition in four semesters at UCLA … volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena … was the Pasadena Black History Parade’s Grand Marshall in 2020 ... (2020) Saw action in all 7 games ... played on special teams and as a reserve in the secondary ... tied for the team lead with two interceptions ... picked off passes in games against Arizona and Stanford. (2019) Saw action in 12 games, with four starts (Cincinnati, San Diego State, Oklahoma, USC) ... finished sixth on the team with 37 tackles ... recovered two fumbles ... credited with three pass defenses ... tied for fifth-best in the Pac-12 in fumble recoveries/game (0.17). (2018) Saw action in all 12 games and made six starts in the last six games of the season ... seventh on the team in tackles (39) ... fourth on the team in passes defended (5) ... had a season-high six tackles and made his first career interception in the win over Arizona ... credited with at least three tackles in eight games. (2017) Did not see game action in his first year in the program.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Buena Park High School in Buena Park, California … listed as a four-star recruit by Scout.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com … Scout's No. 5-ranked cornerback prospect in the West and No. 26 on the West 150 List … No. 13 on the Scout.com California 100 List … No. 111 on the Scout 300 List and No. 12 cornerback prospect in the nation … No. 31 recruit on Rivals.com California 100 List and No. 21 cornerback in the nation … No. 232 on the Rivals.com 250 List … PrepStar All-American and No. 275 on the national list … as a senior, he made three interceptions and was named All-CIF Div. III and Freeway League MVP … also returned kicks and caught 27 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns … as a junior, he caught 33 balls for 747 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named Buena Park HS's Rookie of the Year … attended Alemany HS as a sophomore and freshman … named Co-MVP Defensive Player as a sophomore … set a record with nine interceptions, three returned for scores, as a freshman … was named Freshman Defensive MVP.
PERSONAL: From Pasadena, California … son of Greg and Christy Gates … has two older brothers and two older sisters … chose to attend Fresno State because of the culture and winning mindset. He says that the Fresno State history is extensive and has winning in their veins. He liked the Bulldog mentality … is enrolled in the graduate program in Education Curriculum and Instruction at Fresno State … earned his degree in African American studies from UCLA.
FB Media Availability [9/2]: QB E.J. Warner
Tuesday, September 02
FB Weekly Press Conference [9/1]
Monday, September 01
FB highlight vs Georgia Southern [8/30/25]
Monday, September 01
Post-Game Press Conference [8/30]
Saturday, August 30
