Calvin Munson Season 2015

#15
PositionRHP
Weight235 lbs
Height6-1
ClassSophomore
HometownSt. Charles, Mo.

Calvin Munson Final Bio  Get Acrobat Reader
Calvin Munson Career Stats  Get Acrobat Reader

  • 2016 Second-Team Pro Football Focus All-American
  • 2015 Third-Team Phil Steele All-American
  • 2016 Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist
  • Two-time First Team All-Mountain West (2015-16)
  • 2014 Hon. Mention All-Mountain West
  • Two-time SDSU Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year (2014-15)
  • 2016 SDSU's Most Inspirational Player
  • 2016 Dr. R. Hardy/C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy (team captain award)
  • Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week
    - Sept. 6, 2015 for game vs. USD
  • Two-time Lott IMPACT Trophy National Player of the Week
    - Sept. 12, 2016 for game vs. California
    - Sept. 9, 2015 for game vs. USD
  • MW Defensive Player of the Week
    - Sept. 7, 2015 for game vs. USD
    - Nov. 24, 2014 for game vs. AFA
  • 2016 Athlon Sports Second-Team All-Bowl Pick


  • A defensive player-of-the-year candidate, who was one of the top defensive players on the West Coast ... Is a big, strong tackler ... Seems to always be in the right position to make the big play ... Worked his way up from special teams to seeing time at middle linebacker as a true freshman in 2013 ... Started all 41 games at outside linebacker since 2014 ... Was drafted with the 935th overall pick in the 31st round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals ... Also pitched for the Mountain West Championship Aztec baseball team in 2015 ... Led the Aztecs in tackles 15 times over his career, including six of the 14 games last year ... Had seven interceptions for his career, including three for a touchdown ... The three interceptions returned for a touchdown were tied with Ricky Parker (1993-96) for the most in program history and tied for the third most in FBS history among linebackers ... Also finished third all-time at SDSU with 244 interception yards, sixth in total tackles (301), tied for sixth in assisted tackles (142) and for ninth in sacks (18.0) ... Had nine career games with at least 10 tackles, including four times last year.

    SENIOR SEASON (2015)
    Was named a first-team all-Mountain West performer for a second straight season, becoming the third Aztec linebacker in the MW era to be named a first-team all-conference selection multiple times (also Miles Burris in 2010-11 and Morrison in 2002-04) ... Also was chosen as a second-team Pro Football Focus All-American ... Was named the team's most inspirational player and also earned the team's Dr. R. Hardy/C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy (team captain award) ... Racked up numerous preseason accolades, including being named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (national defensive player of the year), Bednarik Award Watch List (collegiate defensive player of the year), the Butkus Award Watch List (top linebacker) and the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List (integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity) ... Was selected as a quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy ... Also was named the preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year by ESPN College Football 2016 ... Was a preseason first-team all-league selection by the MW media, Phil Steele's 2016 College Football Preview, ESPN College Football 2016, Sporting News, Lindy's Sports, Athlon Sports and USA Today's Paul Myerberg ... Lindy's deemed him the "No. 7 on MW's Top-10 NFL Talent," the "MW's Best Pass Rusher" and a "SDSU Player to Watch" ... The Orlando Sentinel called him a "Top 25 MW Player to Watch," while Campus Insiders labeled him as the "No. 2 (ranked player) on Five Big-Time Players in MW who Deserve a Bigger Spotlight" ... Was deemed the "16th-Best Draft-Eligible Inside Linebacker" by Phil Steele and a "Top 25 MW Player to Watch" by Orlando Sentinel's Matt Murschel ... Pro Football Focus called him the fifth-best linebacker prospect for the NFL Draft ... Has a team-high 116 tackles, 43 more than the next player on the team, most by an Aztec in the Rocky Long defensive coordinator era (since 2009) and most by a SDSU player since Russell Allen had 119 in 2007 ... Also had team-high 17 quarterback hurries, to go along with 11.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three pass breakups ... Ranks 10th in the MW (68th nationally) in tackles per game (8.29) ... Led SDSU with 85 tackles on rushing plays ... Had a game-high 11 tackles (seven solo) and two tackles for loss in the opener against New Hampshire ... Had a career-high 14 tackles (nine solo) to go with 1.5 tackles for loss and an 8-yard sack in a start vs. California ... Also tied teammate Alex Barrett with three quarterback hurries for the most in the game ... Was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week for his efforts ... Had nine tackles (five solo) and a game-high four quarterback hurries at Northern Illinois ... The nine stops ranked second on the team ... Had a game-high nine tackles, leading the team for the 12th time of his career (third time this season) ... Also had a 6-yard sack (and TFL) ... Had five tackles (four solo) against UNLV, tied for the team lead ... Also had a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry ... Finished with 10 tackles at Fresno State, the 13th time of his career that he has led the team in tackles ... Had three solo tackles, two pass breakups and a QBH against San Jose State ... Registered five stops in a start at Utah State, including 0.5 sacks and a tackle for loss, while adding a quarterback hurry ... Had a team-high eight tackles against Hawai'i, the sixth time this year he has led the team in tackles and 15th time of his career ... Recorded seven stops (four solo) with a 5-yard tackle for loss at Nevada ... Also had a quarterback hurry ... Finished with 11 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss at Wyoming ... Reached double digits in tackles for the fourth time this year and ninth time of his career ... Also added a quarterback hurry ... Came up with seven tackles (four solo) and a 3-yard TFL against Colorado State ... The seven stops were tied for the second most on the team ... Had another solid outing at Wyoming in the MW Championship, making nine tackles, a 5-yard sack (and TFL) and a game-high four quarterback hurries ... Had eight tackles, an 8-yard sack (and TFL) and an interception in his final game vs. Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl ... Was named a second-team All-Bowl pick by Athlon Sports ... The interception was his first of the season and seventh of his career ... Finished his career with 301 tackles, just the sixth Aztec to eclipse 300 stops ... Also was ninth in sacks (18.0).

    JUNIOR SEASON (2015)
    Was named a first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league's coaches and media, the first Aztec linebacker to make the first team since Miles Burris in 2010 and 2011, and just the second since 2005 ... Shared the team's defensive player-of-the-year award with Damontae Kazee ... Was named a third-team All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine and was on the magazine's all-MW first team ... Was named a preseason second-team all-Mountain West pick by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports ... Also was chosen as the league's preseason defensive player of the year by David Fox of Athlon Sports ... Deemed a "SDSU Player to Watch" by Lindy's Sports ... Had a team-high 98 tackles on the season in 14 starts, along with team bests in tackles for loss (15.0), sacks (9.5) and fumble recoveries (2, tied) ... Also had two interceptions (both for touchdowns), two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries ... His 98 tackles only trailed Nat Berhe (99 in 2013) for the most in the Rocky Long defensive coordinator era (since 2009) ... Tied for the most interceptions returned for a touchdown in Aztec single-season history (Leon McFadden - 2012, Tory Nixon - 1984) ... Ranked second in the MW in sacks per game (0.68 (36th in FBS)) and sixth in the league in tackle for loss per game (1.07) ... Led SDSU with 68 tackles on rushing plays ... Had a career outing vs. San Diego in the opener, recording 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions returned for a touchdown, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry ... For his efforts, was named the Walter Camp FBS Defensive Player of the Week (the first by an Aztec in the award's history), the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week (also the first by an Aztec) and the MW Defensive Player of the Week ... The two interceptions returned for a touchdown - 19 and 67 yards - tied an NCAA single-game record for a linebacker, tied for the second most in a game among all players in NCAA history and were the most in a game in San Diego State history ... Since 1996, only 24 other players in FBS play have returned two interceptions for a touchdown in a game ... Became the seventh linebacker in FBS history with two interceptions returned for a touchdown in the same game ... The two interceptions were only eclipsed by teammate Damontae Kazee and West Virginia's Karl Joseph in FBS play (both had three) in the first week, while the 86 interception yards ranked second ... Also led the team in tackles for the fourth time of his career and recovered his first-ever fumble ... Came up with six tackles (one solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in another start at California ... Recorded five tackles against South Alabama ... Made five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, a 6-yard sack and a quarterback hurry at Penn State ... Had two stops with 0.5 TFL against Fresno State ... Matched his career high with 12 tackles at Hawai`i ... Also added 1.5 sacks (and 1.5 tackles for loss) and his first two career pass breakups ... Eight of his tackles and the 1.5 sacks came in the first half ... Had another huge game at San Jose State with a team-high 10 tackles (seven solo), three sacks four tackles for loss and a forced fumble ... The three sacks were the most by an Aztec since Heath Farwell had three vs. Nevada on Sept. 25, 2004 and tied for the 15th most in a game in FBS ... The four tackles for a loss were the most by an Aztec since Miles Burris had four against Colorado State on Nov. 6, 2010 and tied for the 24th most in an FBS game ... Reached double-digits in tackles for the second straight game, third time of the season and fifth time of his career ... Led SDSU in tackles for the sixth time of his career ... The forced fumble was the first of the season and third of his career ... Registered six tackles (four solo) with a fumble recovery against Utah State ... Finished with four stops at Colorado State ... Had a game-high seven tackles against Wyoming ... Had a game-high eight tackles in a start at UNLV to go along with 1.5 sacks (and 1.5 TFL), a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries ... Registered eight tackles (five solo) with 0.5 sacks (and tackles for loss) vs. Nevada ... The eight stops tied Malik Smith for the most on the team ... Finished with eight tackles (five solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss vs. Air Force in the Mountain West Championship ... Registered six tackles (four solo), including a half sack (and TFL) for three yards, and a quarterback hurry against Cincinnati in the Hawai`i Bowl.

    SOPHOMORE SEASON (2014)
    Was named a honorable-mention all-MW performer by the league's media and coaches ... Also was chosen as the team's Defensive Player of the Year ... Was named to the Mountain West midseason second team by Phil Steele ... Started and played in all 13 games as a true sophomore ... Had 83 tackles (54 solo), including 10.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions for 146 yards, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries ... Had an interception long of 64 yards, which was the 33rd longest in FBS on the season ... Ranked fifth in the MW and tied for 45th in the nation with 0.31 interceptions per game ... His 146 interception return yards were the seventh most in the country ... Led the team in interceptions (4), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (4) and interceptions (4), and tied for first in forced fumbles (2) and solo tackles (54) ... Numbers over the first three games: 13 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.0 sacks, 1 INT, 0 FF. Numbers over the final 10 games (eight of them MW contests): 70 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 3 INT, 2 FF ... Made his first career start in the opener vs. Northern Arizona, where he had two tackles, 0.5 TFL and a 64-yard interception ... The 64-yard interception return, which was the longest in Division I for the first week of play, got SDSU to the 1-yard line, where Donnel Pumphrey punched it in from a yard out ... Both the interception and the 0.5 TFL were the first of his career ... Had five stops (three solo) and a career-high 1.0 tackles for loss at No. 21/23 North Carolina ... Came up with six tackles (one solo) at Oregon State ... Had five tackles (four solo), his first career sack and a 26-yard interception against UNLV ... Had a career game at Fresno State, making a career-high 12 tackles (seven solo), a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and his first career forced fumble ... The 12 tackles were the most by an Aztec this season and was the first time he led the team in tackles over his career ... His previous best was six heading into the game ... Started for a sixth straight game at New Mexico, making eight tackles (five solo) with 1.0 tackles for loss ... The eight tackles ranked second on the team and were the fourth most in the game ... Came up with seven tackles (five solo) in another start against Hawai`i along with a tackle for loss ... The seven stops ranked second on the team ... Made his eighth straight start at Nevada and had two solo tackles ... Had a five-tackle game vs. Idaho in another start and added his first two quarterback hurries ... Had another solid outing at Boise State, making nine tackles (six solo) and his team-leading third interception of the year ... The nine tackles ranked second on the team and tied for third in the game ... Was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 24 for his play vs. Air Force, making 10 tackles (nine solo), to go along with a forced fumble, an interception for a touchdown and a tackle for loss ... The 56-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the victory for the Aztecs as the team's final score with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter ... It was his fourth pick of the season and second forced fumble of the year ... He led the team in tackles for the second time of his career ... Had a team-high seven tackles against San Jose State, along with two sacks (and TFL) for 22 yards ... Started once again vs. Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl, recording five tackles, including three of the solo variety.

    FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2013)
    Played in 11 games as a true freshman, registering four tackles (three solo) ... Saw time on special teams and as a middle linebacker ... Did not play in the opener vs. Eastern Illinois ... Was on the travel roster to No. 3/2 Ohio State, but did not play ... Saw his first career action on special teams vs. Oregon State ... Logged playing time vs. New Mexico State without recording a stat ... Played again vs. Nevada, but did not find the stat sheet ... Saw time at Air Force without making a stat ... Played vs. No. 15/18 Fresno State without finding the stat sheet ... Played again vs. New Mexico with more time at middle linebacker, but did not record a stat ... Saw time again at special teams and MLB at San Jose State without making a stat ... Had his first three career tackles (two solo) at Hawai'i ... Played vs. Boise State, but did not make a stat ... Saw time in the regular season finale at UNLV without finding the stat sheet ... Made one solo tackle vs. Buffalo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

    HIGH SCHOOL
    A linebacker, who was named the GAC South defensive player of the year after making an eye-popping 193 tackles, nine sacks and three interceptions as a senior in 2012 ... The 193 tackles were the most in the greater St. Louis area ... Named a first-team all-state selection as a senior and earned second-team honors as a junior ... As a senior, was chosen as the defensive state player of the year by both the coaches and media ... Was a two-time first-team all-league selection ... Also saw some time as a wildcat-formation quarterback, where he rushed for 150 yards and four scores ... Helped lead Francis Howell to a 12-2 record as a team captain in 2012, where it was Missouri Class 6 runner-ups ... The Vikings also were 9-4 in 2011, advancing to the Class 6 semifinals for the first time, and 10-2 in 2010 ... Was a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com ... Also was ranked as the 98th-best middle linebacker by Scout.com ... A three-star athlete who also played basketball and baseball and can throw in the low 90s as a right-handed pitcher ... As a senior, led Francis Howell to a Missouri Class 5 state title and a 33-5 record, going 9-0 on the mound with a 0.64 ERA and 74 strikeouts and hitting .434 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs ... As a junior, went 4-4 with a 1.34 ERA, while striking out 56 in 57 2/3 innings ... Was drafted with the 935th overall pick in the 31st round of the MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals in June 2013 ... A team captain in both football and baseball.

    PERSONAL
    Calvin Christopher Munson was born Dec. 27, 1994, in Beaverton, Ore. ... Son of Kurt and Kristen Munson ... Father, Kurt, was a defensive lineman at Oregon State ... Was also recruited by Ohio and Toledo, and received more scholarship offers from Missouri State, Murray State, Tennessee-Martin and Southern Illinois ... Received more interest from Arizona State, California, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri ... Also considered Wyoming, Hawai'i and Fresno State ... Is majoring in health communication.

    SINGLE-GAME BESTS
    Tackles: 14 vs. California (9/10/16)
    Tackles For Loss: 4.0 at San Jose State (10/17/15)
    Sacks: 3.0 at San Jose State (10/17/15)
    Interceptions: 2 vs. San Diego (9/5/15)
    Pass Breakups: 2 vs. San Jose State (10/21/16), at Hawai`i (10/10/15)
    Forced Fumbles: 1, four times
    Fumble Recoveries: 1 vs. Utah State (10/23/15), vs. San Diego (9/5/15)
    Defensive Touchdowns: 2 vs. San Diego (9/5/15)