Troy Cassidy Season 2016

FINAL BIO

* Four-time Mountain West Fall All-Academic Team (2016-19)  

Smart, athletic player who played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2016, and started 20 games over the previous two seasons ... Was listed third on the depth chart at one of the two outside linebacker spots heading into the 2017 fall camp, but emerged as the starter ... Entered his final season in 2019 atop the depth chart at the “Will” linebacker ... Also saw time on special teams ... Finished his career playing in 50 straight games, the longest streak on the team.

SENIOR SEASON (2019)
Started eight of the team’s 13 games and played in all 13 ... Had 35 tackles (18 solo), including 3.0 tackles for loss, a 14-yard sack, a pass breakup and nine quarterback hurries ... Started the opener against Weber State, playing all 51 snaps and tying a career high with seven tackles (four solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss ... Registered four tackles (two solo), 0.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry in a start at UCLA ... Tied for the team lead with seven tackles (four solo) in a start at New Mexico State, while adding a quarterback hurry ...  The seven stops tied a career high ... Played 68 of the 70 snaps in the game ... Registered three tackles (all assisted) and two quarterback hurries in a start vs. Utah State, while playing all 77 snaps ... Had four tackles (two solo), including one for a loss, and a quarterback hurry at Colorado State ... Made two stops (one solo) in 47 snaps in a start vs. Wyoming ... Had one assisted tackle in a start over 20 snaps at San José State ... Had an assisted tackle and a quarterback hurry in 19 snaps off the bench at UNLV ... Returned to the starting lineup vs. Nevada, making one solo tackle in 28 snaps ... Came off the bench to play 21 snaps vs. Fresno State, recording a quarterback hurry ... Had two tackles (one solo), a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in 21 snaps in a reserve role at Hawai’i ... Had three solo tackles, including a 14-yard sack (and TFL), and a quarterback hurry in 35 snaps off the bench vs. Brigham Young ... Played nine snaps off the bench against Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl, but did not record a stat.

JUNIOR SEASON (2018)
Started the team’s first 12 games and played in all 13 ... Had 45 tackles on the season, including 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and six quarterback hurries ... Started the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford and had five tackles, including 0.5 TFL ... Had an assisted stop in a start vs. Sacramento State, which went down as a half sack (and a half TFL) ... Also added a quarterback hurry ... Did not record a stat in a start vs. No. 23/25 Arizona State ... Made five stops (two solo) in a start vs. Eastern Michigan ... Registered a solo stop and a quarterback hurry in a start at rv/No. 24 Boise State ... Had four tackles (two solo) in a start against Air Force ... Recorded five tackles (three solo) with one going for a loss and a quarterback hurry against San José State ... Had five stops (three solo) in a start at Nevada ... Had a big game at New Mexico, recording five tackles for a third straight game, while adding career highs of two sacks (for nine yards) and two tackles for loss, along with two QBH ... Had four tackles (all solo) with his first career forced fumble against UNLV ... The forced fumble was recovered by Parker Baldwin, which led to an Aztec touchdown as time expired in the third quarter ... Followed with a career-high seven stops in a start at Fresno State, while returning a blocked PAT before being tackled ... Came up with two solo tackles, his first pass breakup this season and a quarterback hurry vs. Hawai’i ... Came off the bench for the first time of the season vs. Ohio in the DXL Frisco Bowl, making one assisted tackle.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2017)
Started the first seven games and eight overall, while playing in all 13, making 31 tackles (15 solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks for three yards, a pass breakup and five quarterback hurries ... Started for the first time of his career in the opener against UC Davis, making three tackles (two solo) ... Had one stop (one solo) in a second straight start at Arizona State ... Started again vs. No. 19/19 Stanford and recorded one assisted tackle, 0.5 sacks (and 0.5 TFL) for three yards and his first career pass breakup ... Had a then career high with four tackles (two solo) and a tackle for loss in a start at Air Force ... Bettered his tackle total with five stops (three solo) in another start vs. Northern Illinois ... Had three stops (one solo) in a sixth straight start at UNLV ... Registered four tackles (two solo) and a QBH in a start vs. Boise State ... Did not start for the first time of the season against Fresno State, but was the first guy on defense off the bench ... Did not record a stat ... Also did not find the stat sheet at Hawai'i in time off the bench ... Had a solo stop off the bench at San Jose State ... Did not find the stat sheet against Nevada ... Had three tackles (one solo) and a game-high three quarterback hurries off the bench vs. New Mexico ... Started against Army West Point in the Armed Forces Bowl when SDSU started four linebackers, making a career-high six tackles and adding a quarterback hurry.  

FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2016)
Played in each of the final 11 games, mostly on special teams, making 10 tackles (four solo) with a 1-yard sack (and tackle for loss) ... Did not play the first three games of the season ... Saw time on special teams for the first time of his collegiate career, but did not record a stat ... Also logged statless time vs. UNLV ... Had his first two tackles of his career at Fresno State ... Made a career-high three stops (all solo) vs. San Jose State ... Also recorded his first sack (and tackle for loss), going for 1-yard ... Did not find the stat sheet at Utah State, but did play ... Tied a career high with three tackles (one solo) against Hawai'i ... Made on assisted tackle at Nevada ... Had an assisted stop at Wyoming ... Logged statless time off the bench against Colorado State, at Wyoming in the MW Championship game and vs. Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl.  

HIGH SCHOOL
Three-year letter winner at Carlsbad High School in nearby Carlsbad ... Recorded 178 tackles (119 solo) with 10 sacks over his Lancer career ... All-CIF San Diego Section first-team defense honoree his senior season after ranking second on the team with 69 tackles, 46 solo, four tackles for loss and two interceptions for 85 yards and 4.5 sacks, according to MaxPreps ... At tight end in 2015, recorded 226 yards on 13 receptions, scoring three touchdowns ... Helped lead Carlsbad to a 2015 Avocado West League championship, returning an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the title game ... All-Avocado West League second team honoree his junior season, recording 82 tackles, 55 solo, nine tackles for loss and five sacks ... A three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and ESPN ... Earned a grade of 72 by ESPN ... Lettered in volleyball for the Lancers, earning All-Academic Team honors and scholar-athlete accolades and helping Carlsbad to a spot in the CIF San Diego Section Boys' Volleyball Championship match ... Also received offers from Arizona, Boise State, Colorado, Navy, Nevada, Oregon State, Utah State, Washington and Washington State (according to Rivals).  

PERSONAL
Troy Aaron Cassidy was born June 1, 1998, in San Diego, Calif. ... Also received offers from Arizona, Boise State, Colorado, Navy, Nevada, Oregon State, Utah State, Washington and Washington State (according to Rivals) ... Is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.  

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 7 at New Mexico State (9/14/19), vs. Weber State (8/31/19), at Fresno State (11/17/18)
Tackles For Loss: 2.0 at New Mexico (11/3/18)
Sacks: 2.0 at New Mexico (11/3/18)
Pass Breakups: 1 at Hawai’i (11/23/19), vs. Hawai’i (11/24/18), vs. No. 19/19 Stanford (9/16/17)
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. UNLV (11/10/18)