Former Lions DB to coach at Bowling Green

3/8/2018

BOWLING GREEN — The Bowling Green State University football program named DeJon “D.J.” Gomes as an assistant coach, the school announced Wednesday.

Gomes, a former Nebraska standout who played in the NFL for Washington and Detroit, will coach the Falcons’ cornerbacks after spending last season at Central Michigan as a graduate assistant who worked with the defensive backs.

"I am excited to join the staff," Gomes said in a release. "I want to thank [head coach] Mike Jinks for this opportunity. I can't wait to get to work and get the most out of these young men, both on and off the field."

A native of Union City, Calif., Gomes played two seasons at City College of San Francisco before transferring to Nebraska in 2009 to play for new BG defensive coordinator Carl Pelini. As a senior for the Cornhuskers in 2010, he finished second on the team with 99 tackles, including 51 solo stops, and added three interceptions to earn All-Big 12 honorable mention by the league’s coaches and media.

Gomes was drafted by Washington in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft and played for the Redskins in 2011-12. He was waived by Washington and signed with Detroit, where he saw action in 16 games as a reserve in 2013.

In his pro career, Gomes made 55 tackles and also had one interception and one fumble recovery.

Bowling Green now has nine assistant coaches, leaving one opening on the full-time staff along with an opening for a strength and conditioning coach after Billy Yates left to take an assistant offensive line coaching position with the Lions.

Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481, or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.