PRO(32-4/4-0): Has played in every game his first two seasons, making his first career
starts (four) in2008...selected
as the second of two fifth-round picks (170th overall) by the Steelers in the
2007 NFL Draft.
2008(16-4/3-0): Played in all 16 regular-season games for the
second consecutive season, making four starts...established career highs with 38
tackles (34 solo) and 11 pass defenses...recorded the first interception of his
career to secure the AFC North Division title at Baltimore on December 14...had
nine tackles on special teams...played in all three postseason games and had one
solo postseason tackle... finished with one postseason tackle on special teams
and recovered a fumbled punt against the Chargers in the AFC Divisional
Game...9/7 vs. Houston: Played in his 17th consecutive game and
registered two solo tackles...also had one solo tackle on special
teams...9/14 at Cleveland: Played in his 18th
consecutive game as a reserve defensive back...contributed on special
teams...9/21 at Philadelphia: Played in his 19th consecutive
game as a reserve defensive back...finished with five tackles (four solo) and
one pass defense...9/29 vs. Baltimore: Played in his 20th
consecutive game as a reserve defensive back and as a contributor on
special teams...10/5 atJacksonville: Played
in his 21st consecutive game as a reserve defensive back and as a contributor on
special teams...recorded one solo tackle on special teams...10/19 at
Cincinnati: Played in his 22nd consecutive game...saw
extensive action in the secondary after injuries to Troy Polamalu and Bryant
McFadden...recorded two tackles (one solo) and one pass defense...recorded one
tackle on special teams...10/26 vs. New York Giants: Played in
his 23rd consecutive game...finished with two solo tackles and one pass
defense...11/3 at Washington: Played in his 24th consecutive
game...finished with three solo tackles and two pass defenses...had two solo
tackles on special teams...11/9 vs. Indianapolis: Played in his
25th consecutive game...recorded two solo tackles and one pass
defense...11/16 vs.San Diego: Made his first
career start at CB...finished with three solo tackles...11/20 vs.
Cincinnati: Made his second consecutive start at CB...finished with a
career-high six tackles (four solo) and one pass defense... had one solo tackle
on special teams...11/30at New England: Made
his third consecutive start at CB...recorded four solo tackles and had two pass
defenses...recorded one solo tackle on special teams...12/7 vs. Dallas:
Made his fourth consecutive start at CB...finished with four solo
tackles and two pass defenses...had one solo tackle on special
teams...12/14 at Baltimore: Played in his 30th
consecutive game...had one solo tackle...registered his first career
interception at the end of the game to secure the Steelers’
victory...12/21 at Tennessee: Played in his 31st consecutive
game...finished with two solo tackles...had one assisted tackle on special
teams...12/28 vs. Cleveland: Played in his 32nd
consecutive game...recorded two solo tackles...AFCDivisional Game 1/11 vs. San Diego: Played in his second
consecutive postseason game...recovered a fumble on special teams...AFC
ChampionshipGame 1/18 vs. Baltimore: Played in his
third consecutive postseason game as a reserve defensive back and special teams
contributor...Super BowlXLIII 2/1 vs. Arizona:
Played in his fourth consecutive postseason game...made one solo
tackle...had one solo tackle on special teams.
2007 (16-0/1-0):
Played in all 16
contests and the AFC Wild Card Game against Jacksonville as a reserve DB and
special teams contributor…recovered a fumble and defended a pass during his NFL
debut in Week 1 at Cleveland…finished with five tackles, two pass defenses and a
fumble recovery…tied for third on the team with 11 special teams tackles...9/9 at Cleveland: Saw action at CB in
his first NFL game…picked up one fumble recovery and added one pass defense...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Saw action on special
teams...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Only
action came on special teams where he had two tackles...9/30 at Arizona: Saw limited action on
defense and did not register a defensive tackle…had one solo special teams
tackle...10/7 vs. Seattle: Saw 19
defensive snaps and registered one special teams tackle…was part of a defensive
unit that allowed only 144 total yards, 38 rushing yards, 106 passing yards and
only eight first downs…10/21 at Denver:
Saw 13 defensive snaps and registered his first two NFL tackles…also saw
action on special teams and added one solo tackle…part of a defensive unit that
allowed the Denver running backs to gain only 54 rushing yards…10/28 at Cincinnati: Saw extensive
playing due to the absence of Ryan Clark and Bryant McFadden but did not
register a tackle…11/5 vs. Baltimore:
Saw extensive action on special teams and had one solo tackle…also saw
action at CB and managed one pass defensed…part of a defensive unit that allowed
the Ravens only 104 total yards, with 64 coming on the ground and 40 yards by
air…the Baltimore offense managed only five first downs all night...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Saw his only
action on special teams and did not register a tackle...11/18 at N.Y. Jets: Saw his only action
on special teams and registered one solo tackle...11/26 vs. Miami: Saw action on special
teams but did not register a tackle...12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Saw his only
action on special teams and did not register a tackle...12/9 at New England: Saw action in his
13th consecutive game…was in on 15 defensive plays and registered one
solo tackle...12/16 vs. Jacksonville:
Saw limited action on defense and did not register a tackle…12/20 at St. Louis: Saw limited action
on defense and did not register a tackle...12/30 at Baltimore: Saw action in his
16th career game and finished with two defensive tackles…also had one
solo special teams tackle...AFC WILD
CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville: Saw action in his first playoff game but did
not register a tackle.
COLLEGE:Played in
46 games, making 36 starts…was a veteran leader in the defensive
backfield...talented cover corner. 2006: Selected first-team All-BIG EAST
Conference...finished second on the team in tackles with 60...led the team with
six interceptions…also had 13 pass break ups... recorded eight tackles against
Miami and Pittsburgh...tallied seven stops against Syracuse and West
Virginia…helped the Cardinals to a FedEx Orange Bowl victory over Wake Forest.
2005: Started nine games...recorded 20 total
tackles...tallied four tackles and a sack versus Florida Atlantic...also forced
a fumble...notched three tackles and a pair of breakups against Oregon
State...recorded two tackles against Kentucky. 2004: Started 11 games at cornerback...didn't start against
Tulane...recorded 21 tackles and four pass breakups...notched four tackles,
including one for a loss versus Miami...recorded three tackles in a win over
East Carolina...registered two tackles in a 52-21 win over Army...notched two
stops in the win over Kentucky. 2003: Named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team...Appeared in
11 games, earning three starts at cornerback ...recorded 33 tackles and led the
team with eight passes defensed...made his first collegiate start against
Memphis...recorded a career-high eight tackles and a pass break-up against
Cincinnati...notched his first interception against USF...recorded four tackles,
two tackles for loss and a sack in his collegiate debut against
UTEP...registered four stops against Tulane.
PERSONAL: Rated
a three-star prospect by TheInsiders.com and was the nation’s 67th-ranked
cornerback coming out of Rickards High (Tallahassee Fla.)...a three-star
prospect by Rivals.com who’s the nation’s 46th-ranked cornerback... played
quarterback, wide receiver and safety for the Raiders...racked up over 1,200
all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior...notched 1,035 yards and seven
scores passing, 1,237 yards and 11 scores receiving and 82 tackles, 14 pass
breakups and nine interceptions at defensive back as a senior when he was named
team co-MVP and earned first team All-Big Bend Area honors...also a standout in
track who had been clocked at 4.4 in the 40...is the son of Corine Hall...Full
name: William Gay.
