CJ Baskerville Season 2021

Entering 2022 season

HONORS
* 2021 USA Today All-Bowl Team
* 2021 Bleacher Report All-Bowl Team (Second Team)
* 2021 Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl Most Valuable Defensive Player

An athletic, lanky safety who has impressed the coaching staff early ... Was third on the depth chart after 2021 fall camp but moved into second at the boundary warrior by the fifth game of the season ... Started the final four games of the 2021 campaign ... Enters the 2022 season as the projected starting boundary warrior.

FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2021)
Played in all 14 games on the season, starting the final four ... Had 39 tackles (23 solo), including a tackle for loss, three pass breakups, an interception and a 13-yard fumble recovery across 383 snaps ... Played in the opener late against New Mexico State on Sept. 14, going statless in 12 snaps ... Played statless time on special teams at Arizona on Sept. 11 and vs. Utah on Sept. 18 ... Had his first two career tackles (one solo) in five snaps late vs. Towson on Sept. 25, including 0.5 tackles for loss ... Logged another two tackles (one solo) in 18 defensive snaps against New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Played on special teams without recording a stat at San Jose State on Oct. 15 ... Came up with a solo stop in five defensive snaps at Air Force on Oct. 23 ... Played four statless snaps vs. Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Came up with a pair of tackles (one solo) and a 13-yard fumble recovery in just five defensive snaps at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... The fumble recovery was the first of his career and came after a Tayler Hawkins forced fumble ... Played the most of his young career against Nevada on Nov. 13, logging 55 snaps with Cedarious Barfield going down with an early injury ... Entered the game with 50 snaps over his first nine career games ... Had three tackles (one solo) and earned the team’s highest defensive grade (75.3) according to Pro Football Focus ... Earned his first career start at UNLV on Nov. 19, becoming just the fourth true freshman to start on defense for San Diego State since 2009 (also CB Leon McFadden in 2009, S Tariq Thompson in 2017 and CB Noah Avinger this season) ... Ended up with six tackles and his first career pass breakup, playing all 63 defensive snaps ... Played all 77 snaps once again against Boise State on Nov. 26, where he recorded five tackles (three solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss ... Earned his third straight start against Utah State on Dec. 4 in the Mountain West Championship game, where he had a career-high nine tackles (eight solo) and a career-best two pass breakups ... Led the team in tackles for the first time of his career ... Played 72 of the game’s 74 snaps ... Was named the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl’s Defensive Most Valuable Player for his play against No. 24/25 UTSA on Dec. 21 when he recorded a career-high-tying nine tackles (five solo) and his first career interception, which led to an Aztec touchdown ... According to Pro Football Focus, he set career-high marks in defensive rating (78.9, min. 10 snaps), pass coverage (78.5, min. 10 snaps), rush defense (70.9) and tackling (85.8) ... Was also named to the USA Today All-Bowl team and to the Bleacher Report second team.

HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered for four years at Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Texas … Was all-district as a safety and a wide receiver … According to MaxPreps, had 68 tackles last year as a junior (2019) with an interception and a forced fumble on defense … On offense, totaled 59 catches for 802 yards (13.6 avg.) and six touchdowns … Also competed on the track and field team at RHS, specializing in the 200 meters and long jump … A consensus three-star recruit by Rivals, 247sports and ESPN … Received a scout grade of 88 by 247sports and 77 by ESPN … Rated as the 48th-best safety in the 2021 signing class and the 78th overall recruit in talent-rich Texas.

PERSONAL
Christopher Baskerville was born Dec. 9, 2002, in Houston ... Son of Skip and Sharon Baskerville ... Picked SDSU over offers from Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Duke, Syracuse, Houston, Tulsa, SMU, Kansas and North Texas ... Is majoring in business with an emphasis in marketing.

CAREER BESTS
Tackles: 9 vs. No. 24/25 UTSA (12/21/21), vs. Utah State (12/4/21)
Tackles For Loss: 0.5 vs. Boise State (11/26/21), vs. Towson (9/25/21)
Interceptions: 1 vs. No. 24/25 UTSA (12/21/21)
Pass Breakups: 2 vs. Utah State (12/4/21)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 at Hawai’i (11/6/21)