SIGNING: CBA's Gough headed to Wingate

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on February 24, 2017 9:57 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Caleb Gough donned the No. 5 jersey in his time as C.B. Aycock's premiere running back, most likely because that's how many defenders were needed to take him down.

Maybe it's because that's how many stiff-arms he distributed on each run. Or it might just represent how many yards he drug linebackers and linemen. It's not a coincidence that Adrian Peterson -- a violent, downhill player -- is his favorite running back.

The senior was nothing short of a freight train when he pounded through the tackles this past season. And now, that train will be making its next stop at Wingate University. He will join teammate Randy Floars, who signed with the Bulldogs earlier this month.

"Just the atmosphere," said Gough, describing his choice to play for the Bulldogs. "It felt like home when I first walked in."

For the past few years, Gough's past home -- Hardy Talton Stadium -- witnessed the formation of a bruising back who didn't take no for an answer.

In the 2016 season, the senior compiled 259 carries for 1,710 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards in eight of his 10 games.

"My offensive line -- they just gave me a good push," said Gough, who plans to major in business. "I mean every body that ran the ball this year, ran it successfully. But it was mainly from the coaching. Everyone getting coached hard, and just our teammates putting in the hard work every day and the offensive line always giving everything they've got."

Gough assumed the role of workhorse in the Golden Falcons' offensive scheme. The running back averaged nearly 26 carries a game, including three games in which he surpassed 30 touches.

However, the Wingate signee said there were never issues concerning extra bumps, fatigue or injury. It was all about preparation.

"We practiced hard all week, so game day was always easier because of how hard (Steve) Brooks works us to death," Gough said.

Brooks said Gough pushed himself as hard as any kid he's mentored in his tenure as the Golden Falcons' head coach. He believed the senior's leadership qualities were manifested in the way he began each week without a complaint and how he refused to slow down.

"I think that all went back to how hard he worked in the weight room," Brooks said. "He was always ready to go on Monday. There was never a Monday that we had where we said, 'Okay Caleb, you're limited today.'"

No Monday may have been tougher than the one following the Golden Falcons' 83-68 record-breaking loss to D.H. Conley in October. Gough registered 34 carries, 254 yards and a career-high six touchdowns.

The game epitomized the aggressive running style he hopes to carry with him to Wingate.

"My offensive line just creating big holes for me," Gough said. "I was getting to the second level about every carry. I think they had a couple of freshman linebackers or something like that. So it just made it very easy.

Wingate posted three consecutive winning seasons, including an 8-3 record in 2016. The Bulldogs also averaged 227.1 rushing yards per game last season -- the perfect fit for a running back seeking opportunity.

But Gough knows that once he enters school, he will once again have to work his way to the top. He doesn't see this as a problem, however.

If the bruiser works as hard as he runs through the tackles each time he touches the ball, he'll have no worries about finding his place.

"Just to learn -- the learning experience," Gough said. "I'll try to compete as much as I can, but I know they have they're running backs established there. I think it's a good teaching and learning experience for the first year."