Kaelin Himphill Season 2016

Entering 2020 season

* Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week
- Oct. 15, 2018 for game vs. Air Force

Hard-hitting linebacker who will look to compete for playing time this year after playing on special teams each of his first three seasons, backing up two-time first-team all-MW performer Kyahva Tezino ... Regularly plays on the kickoff, punt and punt return units on special teams ... Enters the 2020 season as the projecting starting middle linebacker after an impressive spring.

JUNIOR SEASON (2019)
Played in all 13 games on special teams, making four tackles (three solo) ... Played five defensive snaps on the season ... Logged special teams action against Weber State in the opener ... Had a solo stop on a San Diego State punt at UCLA ... Made another tackle on an Aztec punt at New Mexico State ... Did not log a stat vs. Utah State on special teams ... Played two statless snaps and on special teams at Colorado State ... Made a solo tackle on a punt vs. Wyoming ... Did not record a stat in special teams playing time at San José State ... Had an assisted tackle on the punt return unit at UNLV ... Did not record a stat in special teams snaps vs. Nevada, Fresno State, Hawai’i and Brigham Young ... Played three snaps without finding the stat sheet vs. Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018)
Played in 12 of the team’s 13 games on special teams, blocking a punt and making a solo tackle ... Did not play the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford ... Saw statless time on special teams against Sacramento State, against No. 23/25 Arizona State, Eastern Michigan and at rv/No. 24 Boise State ... Came up with arguably the biggest play of the game against Air Force when he blocked a punt with 16 seconds left in the first half ... For his efforts, was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week ... Down, 9-7, teammate Trenton Thompson was able to pick up the ball and get into the end zone to put San Diego State on top, 14-9, heading into intermission ... It was the Aztecs’ first blocked punt since Kameron Kelly blocked one against UNLV on Sept. 27, 2014, and their first blocked punt return for a touchdown since Freddy Keiaho did so against New Mexico on Oct. 22, 2005 ... Played statless time on special teams against San José State, at Nevada and at New Mexico ... Had a solo stop on special teams against UNLV ... Did not record a stat in special teams play at Fresno State, against Hawai’i or vs. Ohio in the DXL Frisco Bowl.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2017)
Played in one game on the season, making an assisted tackle on special teams ... Did not play the first nine games of the season ... Made his collegiate debut on the kickoff unit at San Jose State, making an assisted tackle ... Did not play the final three games of the season.  

REDSHIRT SEASON (2016)
Redshirted his true freshman season.  

HIGH SCHOOL
Picked up three letters and played four years at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Ore. ... Led the Falcons to a 19-3 (.864) record over his final two years, including a 15-1 (.938) mark in league play ... Helped LHS to a 10-1 record and perfect 8-0 conference record as a senior and a 9-2 mark (7-1 league) as a junior ... Was named the Northwest Oregon Conference defensive player of the year as a senior after recording 59 tackles (3.0 TFL), an interception, three fumble recoveries and three defensive scores (according to the Hillsboro Tribune) ... Was a two-time first-team all-state and two-time all-league pick ... Also a Polynesian All-American ... A three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247sports ... Ranked as the top inside linebacker in the state of Oregon and the 13th best in the nation ... Also wrestled and was on the track and field team at Liberty HS.  

PERSONAL
Kaelin Malosi Charles Himphill was born Jan. 9, 1998, in Hillsboro, Ore. ... Son of Eric Himphill and Michelle Burton ... Chose the Aztecs over numerous offers, including Arizona, Oregon State, Utah, Utah State, West Virginia, Army, Boise State, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Hawai`i, Montana, Portland State and UC Davis ... Is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.  

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 1, six times
Blocked Punts: 1 vs. Air Force  (10/12/18)