Kevin Boss

Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=New York Giants
currentnumber=89
currentposition=Tight end


caption=Kevin Boss at the New York Giants Super Bowl champions parade in NYC.
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|01|11
birthplace=Corvallis, Oregon
heightft=6
heightin=6
weight=265
debutyear=2007
debutteam=New York Giants
college=Western Oregon
highlights=
* Second-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors
* First-team All-American, All-GNAC, and All-Region honors
* Super Bowl XLII champion
draftyear=2007
draftround=5
draftpick=153
pastteams=
* New York Giants (2007-present)
statweek=5
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=14
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=178
statlabel3=Touchdowns
statvalue3=3
nfl=BOS364606

Kevin Boss (born January 11, 1984 in Corvallis, Oregon) is an American football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League. Boss, who currently resides in Philomath, Oregon, graduated in December 2006 from Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon, with a degree in physical education. He was then selected in the 5th round (pick 153 overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

High school

Before enrolling at Western Oregon University, Boss played varsity-level football at Philomath High School, becoming a stand-out tight end. In his junior year he was a second-team All-League choice as a tight end and defensive end and as a senior, he was an honorable mention All-State Class 3A choice and earned first-team All-ValCo League honors. For his accolades in football, he played in the Oregon Shrine East-West Football Game in Baker City.

Boss also took part in basketball, playing center. As a junior, Boss was awarded second-team All-League honors. Then as a senior, his team won the state title game (2002), picking up honorable mention All-State and All-League first-team accolades as well.

Collegiate career

Boss soon enrolled at Western Oregon, but was red-shirted the entire season to the scout team. In 2003, he earned a starting job at tight end. Before coming down with mononucleosis (which kept him out of the final six games of the season), Boss appeared in the first six games, grabbing nine catches for 60 yards (6.7 average) and recovering a fumble. The aforementioned earned him second-team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) honors.

As a junior, Boss proved a multi-sport athlete for the Wolves, continuing his football (under coach Dennis Bain), and adding basketball to his regime. As a tight end, he started all team games, registering 39 receptions for 506 yards (13.0 average) and five touchdowns on the field earning first-team All-GNAC and All-Region accolades. On the basketball court he averaged 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds a contest in 26 games.

In 2005, Boss finished second on the team with a career-high 53 receptions for 621 yards (11.7 average) and eight touchdowns. He also returned one punt for 13 yards, recorded four solo tackles and recovered one fumble, picking up first-team All-American, All-Region and All-GNAC honors, all in the eleven games he started for the Wolves. On the basketball court, Boss averaged 3.5 ppg (points per game), pulled down 90 rebounds and led the Wolves with seventeen blocked shots.

Boss started 31 of 33 games in which he played. He ended his collegiate career with 134 receptions for 1590 yards (11.9 average) and 19 touchdowns. He was also credited with five solo tackles, recovering a pair of fumbles, and gaining 13 yards on one punt return as well. Boss graduated as a physical education major, with a minor in business, earning Academic All-District VIII honors with a 3.2 grade point average. Boss then declared himself eligible for the 2007 NFL Draft.

Pro career

2007

Boss was drafted in the 5th Round, 153 Overall, in the 2007 NFL Draft. Boss made his first career catch on November 11 2007, in a regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys that went for 18 yards. He soon took over for an injured Jeremy Shockey as the starting tight end and brought in nine passes and two touchdowns to end the regular season. Boss proved a considerable threat in the Giants first postseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, racking up two receptions for 14 yards in a 24-14 victory. Boss went on to gain two more receptions in the Divisional and Conference rounds of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers respectively.

Boss and his team then went on to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona, where they were matched up against the previously undefeated New England Patriots. Boss only caught one reception, but took his opportunity and sprinted for a 45-yard gain that would eventually set up a 5-yard touchdown pass. It was the longest play from scrimage in the game. The Giants would go on to defeat the Patriots 17-14.

2008

Entering Giants mini-camp, Boss arrived weighing 272 pounds. [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2008/05/pope-shockeys-absence-no-facto.html The Blue Screen - NY Daily News ] ] A significant increase in weight compared to last year. Since Jeremy Shockey was traded to the Saints, he will be the starting tight end.

Personal

He is the son of Teresa and Bob Boss and has an older brother, Terry, who is currently with Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer.

External links

* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=8407 Player page] at ESPN.com
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=BOS364606 Player page] at NFL.com
* [http://www.giants.com/team/player302.html Player page] at Giants.com
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8407 Player page] at Yahoo! Sports

References