BOWLING GREEN -- When it comes to great football nicknames, most people favor the rough and tough ones like "Duke" or "Bear."

But BooBoo?

"My aunt didn't like the name Jerry," said Bowling Green State University football standout BooBoo Gates. "She just said 'BooBoo,' and that's been my name ever since."

Don't worry about Gates taking much grief for his nickname, because the Falcons' sophomore rover has become one of the team's top defenders. The native of Middletown, Ohio, ranks third on the team with eight tackles, including one for loss, and also intercepted a pass against Morgan State to set up a first-quarter touchdown.

BG football coach Dave Clawson said Gates has taken a big step forward from last season, when he played in 12 games as a true freshman.

"BooBoo is a very good player who showed flashes [of his ability] last year," Clawson said. "One of the reasons I like to redshirt freshmen is because sometimes they don't have the maturity level of older guys, and some times BooBoo was a little up-and-down with his preparation.

"There were some weeks where he was locked in, and those were the weeks you knew he was going to play well. And other weeks he didn't prepare as well as he should have, and those weeks we didn't feel as confident playing him as much."

While Gates played in all 12 games last season, he finished with 35 tackles -- and at times confounded his coaches.

"Last year I think he just ran around on his own," Clawson said of Gates. "Some times he would make a great play because of his ability, but at times he would hurt the defense because he wasn't where he should be.

"This year we're still getting his good plays, but on other plays he's at the right place and the right time playing the right assignment. He has made a tremendous jump from year one to year two."

Gates has had a great impact on special teams for BG. Last season he averaged 24.4 per kickoff return, thanks in part to a 75-yard return for a TD against Kent State. This season he twice has won the Falcons' "big hit" award for a special teams tackle.

"Nothing starts a game off better than when BooBoo goes down there at 100 miles an hour and 'lights up' a kickoff returner," Clawson said. "He's got a knack for making plays, he's tough and he's physical. And he has grown up a lot."

While many players don't like playing on special teams, Gates said he enjoys them.

"Special teams are fun," he said. "You just run out there and have fun.

"When I'm running down there on a kickoff I'm scanning to see the ball-carrier make his move, and then I make my move. When I hit him, I just lay out and see what happens."

INJURY REPORT: The Falcons enter week three relatively healthy, with kicker Jerry Phillips the only addition to the injury report.

Phillips injured his leg on the kick he booted out of bounds against Morgan State and is listed as doubtful for the Wyoming contest. Central Catholic grad Kyle Burkhardt, who is doing the placekicking, is expected to handle kickoffs as well.

Senior fullback Zach Akenberger, a Bowling Green High School grad who broke his right leg at Temple last season, is back on the practice field.

"He now is practicing without contact, and he has made tremendous progress," Clawson said of Akenberger. "We're hoping he can play some time in October."

YUCK: When kicker Stephen Stein missed an extra point against Morgan State, he had a good excuse.

"When he missed it, I asked him what happened and he said, 'A moth flew into my face,' " Clawson said. "You think of all the crazy excuses you can hear. ... Then when we watched the film, we froze it -- and there's this speck that flies into his face. I guess it was legitimate."

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

First Published September 15, 2011, 4:00 a.m.