Gabe Carimi

He contributed to an offense that was ranked 5th in the nation in scoring (at 41.5 ppg), and 12th in rushing (at 245.7 yards per game).

Gabriel Andrew Carimi (born June 13, 1988) is a former American football guard.

In 2005, the Silver Eagles ran behind him 70% of the time when he was at offensive tackle, while as a defensive end he had five quarterback sacks.

He was voted a football Parade All-American and PrepStar All-American as a senior, while he captained the team.

He was also the Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal Player of the Year, first-team all-state in 2005, a first-team selection by the Associated Press and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (as a two-way player), and was twice first-team all-conference.

Seeded 15th in the state in discus as a senior, he placed 5th in the 2006 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association track and field Division 1 discus championships, at 157 ft. He earned four letters in track, and was team captain in his senior year.

Carimi also played football for the high school's Silver Eagles.

Playing both offensive and defensive tackle, he lettered for four years.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Carimi was rated the No. 3 football player in Wisconsin and the No. 30 offensive tackle prospect in the class of 2006.

His coach Mike Stassi predicted: "He's going to be the new wave of offensive linemen, that can run and move. And this guy's got it all."

Carimi elected to attend his hometown University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He chose it because of its academic and football reputations, a scholarship that he was offered, and its proximity to his home.

He majored in civil engineering, and played football for the Wisconsin Badgers football team.

He had played right tackle and defensive end in high school.

But in his first year in 2006, during which time he was redshirted, he began practicing at left tackle, because it was the next open spot.

He was described that season as running very well, and having tenacity, athletic ability, and impressive lateral movement while pass-blocking.

Carimi started all 13 games as a freshman at left tackle for the Badgers in 2007, replacing All-American Joe Thomas, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns at No. 3 in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

He was a second-team Freshman All-American selection by Rivals.com and The Sporting News, and a first-team Freshman All-Big-Ten selection by The Sporting News, as well as an Academic All-Big-Ten.

As a sophomore in 2008, he started all 10 games he played in.

That year, he was second-team Pre-season All-Big Ten by Lindy's and Athlon Sports, honorable mention Sophomore All-American by College Football News, and Academic All-Big Ten.

As a junior in 2009, he started all 13 games.

He was a first-team Mid-season All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele, a first-team All-Big Ten selection by media, a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele, and Academic All-Big Ten.

Commenting in Sports Illustrated in October 2009, Tony Pauline wrote: "Carimi is the next great offensive lineman to come from the Badger program. He's a terrific pass-protecting left tackle, with the size necessary to grow into a dominant run blocker."

He was awarded the 2010 Outland Trophy, as the nation's top collegiate interior lineman.

He was also a unanimous All-American, and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

During his senior year in 2010, when he was co-Captain of the Big Ten champion Badgers, Phil Steele made him a mid-season first-team All-American selection.

As a senior, Carimi won the 2010 Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top collegiate interior lineman.

Carimi had 49 starts at left tackle in his four-year Wisconsin Badgers college career, which culminated at the 2011 Rose Bowl.

Carimi was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round, 29th overall pick, of the 2011 NFL Draft.

He began the 2011 season as the Bears' starting right tackle.

Carimi was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on June 9, 2013, for the Buccaneers' 2014 6th round pick.

He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2014, and played in all 16 games for them that season, making 7 starts.

Carimi was born in Lake Forest, Illinois.

He attended Monona Grove High School in Monona, Wisconsin.

He started there as a 6 ft, 220 lb freshman.

He grew into his body, worked on his flexibility, and developed his athleticism by becoming a karate black belt.

He credits his karate training with laying a foundation for his later discipline, improving his flexibility, and helping him develop the hand coordination and hand placement he uses as a football player.

He was on the high school's track team.

He was the second Outland Trophy winner in school history, joining Joe Thomas, and the 14th Big Ten awardee.

Seven of the prior ten Outland Trophy winners were top-10 NFL draft picks.