Andrew Aleki Season 2017

Final Bio

Athletic linebacker, who impressed the coaching staff playing since arriving on campus in 2017 ... Has a nose for the ball ... One of the emotional leaders on defense  ... Also excelled on special teams ... Has played in 56 games for his career, the third most among all 2021 Aztecs (Tayler Hawkins and Trenton Thompson, 57).

^SENIOR SEASON (2021)
Started nine of the team’s 14 games this season, logging snaps in 13 overall ... Had 44 tackles (25 solo), two tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions (both returned for a touchdown) and eight quarterback hurries ... His two interceptions returned for a touchdown were tied for the most in a season in program history (also Ron Smith (2016), Calvin Munson (2015), Leon McFadden (2012) and Tory Nixon (1984)) ... The two pick 6’s  also tied for the most in the league and the second most in the country ... Started the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, finishing with three tackles (two solo) and a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in 39 snaps ...  The interception was the first of his career, while the interception put the Aztecs up, 21-10 ... Started again the following week at Arizona on Sept. 11, making three tackles (two solo), including a 3-yard sack (and TFL) and a team-high-tying three quarterback hurries ... Played 44 of the team’s 58 snaps ... Came up with a pair of solo tackles in 10 tackles off the bench against Utah on Sept. 18 in a limited role while batting a minor injury ... Did not play against Towson on Sept. 25 but was on the travel squad ... Logged a pair of assisted tackles in 22 snaps against New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Had a then season-high four tackles (one solo) and a quarterback hurry in 42 snaps at San José State ... Tied a season high with four tackles (all solo) in 37 snaps off the bench at Air Force ... Started against Fresno State on Oct. 30 for the first time since the Arizona game on Sept. 11, registering two solo stops in 50 snaps ...  Had a big game in his native Honolulu in a start on Nov. 6 against Hawai’i, coming up with a season-high eight tackles, along with 0.5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry ... Led the team in tackles for the first time of his career ... The eight tackles were the second most of his career (10 at Colorado on Nov. 28, 2020) ... Played in 42 snaps overall ... Came up with three tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurry in a start and 41 defensive snaps against Nevada on Nov. 13 ... Had a great game at UNLV on Nov. 19, recording five tackles (three solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, and a 17-yard interception returned for a touchdown ... It was his second interception return for a touchdown on the season, which tied an Aztec season record (fifth time overall) ... The pick 6 put the Aztecs up, 7-3, midway through the first quarter ... Was named one of the team’s defensive players of the game ...Came up with an assisted tackle and a QBH in 39 snaps in a start against Boise State on Nov. 26 ... Had two tackles (one solo) in a start across 41 defensive snaps against Utah State on Dec. 4 ... Ended his collegiate career with five tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurry in a start against UTSA in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21.

SENIOR SEASON (2020)
Started five of the six games he appeared in at “Will” linebacker, missing the San José State and Nevada games with an injury, and coming off the bench vs. Colorado State ... Had 30 tackles (17 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries ... Started the opener with UNLV on Oct. 24, making four tackles (two solo) with a career-high two pass breakups (entered with two PBUs in 37 games) ... Came up with five tackles (one solo) in a start at Utah State on Oct. 31, which were tied with Darren Hall and Tayler Hawkins for the most on the team ... Did not travel to the San José State game because of an injury ... Returned to start against Hawai’i on Nov. 14, where he recorded five tackles (four solo) with a quarterback hurry ... Traveled to Reno for the Nevada game on Nov. 21, but did not play because of an injury ... Returned for a big game in a start at Colorado on Nov. 28, making a career-high 10 tackles (six solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, with a quarterback hurry ... Easily eclipsed his previous high of six, which he had done four times for his career ... Along with Cameron Thomas (14) and Trenton Thompson (10), the Aztecs had three players with double-digits in tackles for the first time since the 2017 Armed Forces Bowl against Army West Point ... Came off the bench for the first time of the season against Colorado State on Dec. 5, totaling four tackles (three solo) and two tackles for loss ... The two TFL tied a career high ... Started at No. 14/16 Brigham Young on Dec. 12, making two tackles (one solo) with one quarterback hurry.

JUNIOR SEASON (2019)
Played in all 13 games, starting eight times ... Had 35 tackles (14 solo), including 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and five quarterback hurries ... Played 16 snaps in the opener with Weber State without recording a stat ... Earned the start for the second time in his career at UCLA, making one solo tackle in 33 snaps ... Had arguably the best game of his career in his third career start at New Mexico State, making five tackles (three solo), with a career-high two tackles for loss of seven yards and his first career sack of five yards ... Recorded four tackles (one solo), including a 2-yard tackle for loss, and a pass breakup in a start and 61 snaps vs. Utah State ... Did not record a stat in 16 snaps off the bench at Colorado State ...  Contributed two assisted tackles in 11 snaps off the bench vs. Wyoming ... Came up with three tackles (two solo) and two quarterback hurries in 34 snaps in a reserve role at San José State ... Earned the start at UNLV, making a season-high and career-high-tying six tackles with three quarterback hurries in 58 snaps ... Had two tackles (0.5 tackles for loss) in 28 snaps off the bench against Nevada ... Recorded five tackles (two solo) and in a start vs. Fresno State, including a 7-yard tackle for loss, in 46 snaps ... Earned the start at Hawai’i, making one assisted tackle in 43 snaps ... Tied a career high with six tackles in a start against Brigham Young, playing 54 of the 84 snaps ... Started and played 47 snaps against Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl without finding the stat sheet.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2018)
Played in 12 of the team’s 13 games, starting once ... Missed only the Eastern Michigan game ... Had 22 tackles on the season to go along with a pass breakup ... Had three stops in the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford off the bench, logging 15 snaps on defense ... Also had a pass breakup, which deflected to Noble Hall for an interception ... Made an assisted tackle on defense off the bench against Sacramento State ... Did not record a stat in playing time against No. 23/25 Arizona State, logging 14 snaps on defense ... Did not play vs. Eastern Michigan ... Set a career best with three solo tackles in 19 snaps against rv/No. 24 Boise State ... Played two statless snaps against Air Force ... Had one assisted tackle in time off the bench against San José State ... Did not find the stat sheet in three snaps at Nevada ... Recorded a solo tackle on special teams at New Mexico without seeing any time on defense ... Played nine snaps without finding the stat sheet against UNLV ... Had arguably his best game of the season at Fresno State, making a career-high six tackles (previous best was three) in just 18 snaps off the bench ... Made a solo tackle in 11 snaps against Hawai’i ... Played a career-high 49 snaps in his first career start against Ohio in the DXL Frisco Bowl, tying a career high with six tackles.

FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2017)
Logged snaps in 12 games as a true freshman, only missing the Arizona State game with an illness ... Had 16 tackles (nine solo), a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry ... Tied for the team lead with three tackles on the punt return unit ... Played late against UC Davis in the opener, but failed to find the stat sheet ... Did not travel to Arizona State because of an illness ... Had his first two career tackles off the bench vs. No. 19/19 Stanford ... Added two assisted tackles in extensive playing time at Air Force ... Had a solo stop, recovered his first career fumble and had his first quarterback hurry vs. Northern Illinois ... Came up with two solos at UNLV ... Registered an assisted stop vs. Boise State ... Did not record a stat in playing time against Fresno State ... Had two solo stops in a reserve role at Hawai'i ... Had another two tackles (one solo) at San Jose State ... Came up with a solo tackle against Nevada ... Made two assisted tackles against New Mexico ... Made an assisted stop in playing time vs. Army West Point in the Armed Forces Bowl.  

HIGH SCHOOL
Played his prep ball at Kamehameha High School in Honolulu ... A consensus three-star recruit by Rivals, ESPN, 247sports and Scout ... 247sports ranked him as the sixth-best recruit in the state of Hawaii and gave him a grade of 83 ... Was rated as the second-best outside linebacker in Hawaii and 19th in the west by Scout.  

PERSONAL
Andrew Ka'eo Aleki was born May 24, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nev. ... Son of Aviata and Jaylene Aleki ... Picked the Aztecs over other offers from Utah, Washington State, Oregon State, Air Force, UNLV and Hawai'i ... Is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 10 at Colorado (11/28/20)
Tackles For Loss: 2.0 vs. Colorado State (12/5/20), at New Mexico State (9/14/19)
Sacks: 1.0 at Arizona (9/11/21), at New Mexico State (9/14/19)
Interceptions: 1 at UNLV (11/19/21), vs. New Mexico State (9/4/21)
Pass Breakups: 2 vs. UNLV (10/24/20)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 vs. Northern Illinois (9/30/17)
Defensive Touchdowns: 1 at UNLV (11/19/21), vs. New Mexico State (9/4/21)