In fall camp, Chris Gallon was just another number in a group of young Bowling Green
wide receivers, all of whom were looking to fit in and find playing time.
”I would have said a year ago there was no way Chris Gallon would have played for
us; Chris was so far away,” said BG head coach Dave Clawson.
Now the 6-foot-4, 221-pound redshirt freshman is the Falcons’ leading receiver going
into Thursday’s Military Bowl game against San Jose State. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.
at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
”He probably made his biggest jump from his freshman fall to his freshman spring (as
much) as anyone on our team and then another jump to (this) season,” Clawson
said.
Gallon started the season with solid games in the Falcons’ opener at Florida (six
catches for 69 yards) and in the home opener against Idaho (six catches for 89
yards).
”Starting the first game in The Swamp (at Florida), how loud it was, it was crazy. I
think I played very well in The Swamp and after that game my confidence totally
went through the roof,” said Gallon. "I felt like the coaches trusted me a
lot more and they gave me a lot more responsibility to see if I could handle it.

”I feel like I’ve grown so much throughout this whole year … I’m a pretty big kid
and whenever I use my strength and my size, we can do some damage.”
Still it’s been a learning process. In an eight-game stretch between Sept. 15 and
Nov. 7, Gallon made a total of 20 receptions for 211 yards.
Gallon rebounded in the last two games of the regular season showing he has the size,
speed and athleticism to be a top-notch receiver in the Mid-American Conference.
Gallon had 10 receptions for 213 yards and two scores against Kent State and
added five catches for 65 yards in the season finale against Buffalo.
”Chris has done a great job. In the Kent State game he made some amazing plays. I
challenged him and he answered,” said BG quarterback Matt Schilz. ”He’s worked
very hard and it has paid off for him. He’s going to be a great receiver and
he’s hungry to get better.
”He’s a pretty big guy. When he uses his body he is very physical and he can makes
some plays, and he showed some speed,” Schilz added.
With the Falcons featuring the running game this season, the passing numbers are
down.
Still Gallon goes into the Military Bowl with 47 receptions for 647 yards and six
touchdowns.
”He’s a big target and he has soft hands,” Clawson said. ”He gives us a physical
mismatch and he has really good ball skills; that’s a unique skill-set.”
Gallon said learning the playbook along with working on route running and catching
the ball have helped him improve and gain confidence this year. He also credited
Schilz with making him a better player.
”It’s getting a connection with Matt Schilz by coming out here every day by
ourselves, throwing on the field,” Gallon said. ”We’re in film room watching
the opponent. We’re dedicated to getting better, and we just keep working each
and every day.”
The small town atmosphere of Bowling Green was a big selling point when Gallon was
being recruited from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla.
"Out of high school I had a lot of different offers,” Gallon said. ”Growing up
in a big city like Orlando, there was a lot of trouble you could get into.
”Me and my mom, we came up here to Bowling Green and my mom liked how small the town
is and how close everybody is and the how the coaches are coaching people on the
right path,” he continued. ”She realized that this would be one of my top
choices. After weeks of deciding where I should go I finally decided my mom was
correct and I wanted to come here to play.”