Introduction
Franklin “Frank” Gore Jr., the son of NFL legend Frank Gore, has been steadily forging his own path in professional football. Following a standout college career at Southern Miss, Gore Jr. signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Though he spent the bulk of his rookie season on the practice squad, 2025 brings exciting new opportunities—most notably, his reserve/future contract with the Bills. Here’s a deep dive into his journey, his preseason highlights, and what fans can expect next.
College Career: Building Momentum at Southern Miss
Gore Jr. enjoyed a robust four-year tenure at Southern Miss:
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2020 (Freshman): Rushed for 708 yards on 121 carries (5.9 avg.) and earned second-team All-Conference and All-Freshman honors.
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2022: Delivered a record-breaking performance in the LendingTree Bowl—329 rushing yards and three touchdowns, setting an FBS bowl game record.
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2024: Took home Offensive MVP honors at the East–West Shrine Bowl Wikipedia.
Over his college career, Gore Jr. accumulated 4,022 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns, and added receiving and limited passing contributions.
Entering the NFL: 2024 Rookie Campaign
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Undrafted Free Agent: After going undrafted in 2024, Gore Jr. signed with the Bills.
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Roster Moves: Initially released during final cuts, he was quickly re-signed to Buffalo’s practice squad.
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Preseason Shine: Displayed promise with 163 rushing yards and one touchdown on 33 carries, though a knee injury in the final preseason outing posed a setback.
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Active Roster Elevation: Elevated to the active roster for the Week 6 matchup against the Jets—but did not record any game snaps.
Highlighting His Preseason Performances
In the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, Gore Jr. played nearly the entire game. Buffalo Rumblings offered a film breakdown that underscores:
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Agility & Burst: Sharp cuts and quick acceleration to the edge.
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Balance & Durability: Exceptional balance through traffic, staying upright after contact.
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Vision & Toughness: Consistently finished runs with leg power—sometimes unusually similar to his father’s style.
Although he suffered a knee injury during that game, his performance methodically boosted confidence in his potential.
Signing the 2025 Reserve/Future Contract
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On January 27, 2025, the Bills signed Gore Jr. to a reserve/future contract, securing his place on the roster through the offseason.
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Spotrac lists his 2025 base salary at approximately $840,000, along with a signing bonus—all standard figures for this type of contract Spotrac.
Outlook & What’s Next in 2025
Depth Chart & Competition
Gore Jr. is expected to contest for a reserve backfield role behind James Cook. His primary competition includes:
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Ty Johnson – a seasoned veteran
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Ray Davis – another rookie
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Darrynton Evans – projected to bring speed and finesse
Unique Tools & Fit
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Known for his grit, short-yardage toughness, and balance.
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Possesses potential across special teams and inside-zone rushing packages.
Fantasy Insight
As per RotoWire, Gore Jr. may be overshadowed by more explosive athletes on the roster but remains a candidate for goal-line duties and special teams if he capitalizes on training camp momentum.
Analyst Predictions
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic projects that the Bills might lean toward Johnson, Davis, and fullback Reggie Gilliam for the final roster, leaving Gore Jr. possibly on the taxi squad unless he impresses significantly in camp and preseason.
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