| Sam Acho |
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 | Class:
Senior
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| Hometown:
Dallas, Texas
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| High School:
St. Mark's
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| Height / Weight:
6-3 / 260
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| Position:
DE
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| Experience:
Sr.-3L
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Career statistics
Fourth-year defensive end who has played in 38 career games, including 14 starts ... posted 89 tackles (59 solo), 14.5 sacks, 20 TFL, 26 pressures, seven PBD, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles during his career ... started all 14 games at defensive end as a junior in 2009 ... a Lott Trophy semifinalist ... an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection ... led the team with four fumble recoveries, which tied for the most nationally (t-No. 3 UT single-season) ... also tallied 63 tackles (44 solo), 14 TFL, 10 sacks, three PBD, two forced fumbles and 15 pressures ... played in all 13 games at defensive end and on special teams in 2008 ... compiled 16 tackles, three sacks, nine pressures, two PBD and a forced fumble ... saw action in 11 games at defensive end and on special teams as a true freshman in 2007 ... tallied 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three TFL, two pressures and two PBD ... was a three-time all-conference performer and four-time member of the honor roll in high school ... ranked as one of ESPN's top 150 national prospects ... a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American ... a two-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection ... tested out of 26 hours in foreign language, calculus and rhetoric prior to starting his college career.
JUNIOR (2009)
Started 14 games at defensive end ... a Lott Trophy semifinalist ... tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 by The Associated Press and league's coaches ... a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American ... named the team's Most Productive Performer on defense for efforts against ULM and Baylor ... helped UT rank 12th nationally in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), third in total defense (251.9 ypg), first in rushing defense (72.4 ypg), 10th in pass efficiency defense (100.5 rating) and 19th in pass defense (179.6 ypg) ... UT also ranked first nationally in INTs (25) and tied for first in forced turnovers (37) ... led the team with four fumble recoveries, which tied for the most nationally (t-No. 3 UT single-season) ... also tallied 63 tackles (44 solo), 14 TFL, 10 sacks, three PBD, two forced fumbles and 15 pressures ... posted four tackles, two fumble recoveries, two PBD and a pressure against ULM ... registered five tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a pressure against Wyoming ... notched a tackle and a fumble recovery versus Texas Tech ... recorded three tackles, a sack and two pressures against UTEP ... notched five tackles, four TFL, two sacks and a pressure versus Colorado ... tallied four tackles and three pressures against No. 20 Oklahoma ... registered three tackles and three pressures at Missouri ... notched four tackles, a forced fumble and a PBU at Oklahoma State ... recorded four tackles, a sack and a pressure versus UCF ... registered six tackles, two TFL, a forced fumble and a pressure at Baylor ... tallied two tackles, a sack and a TFL versus Kansas ... posted six tackles, a sack and two pressures at Texas A&M ... notched a career-high 10 tackles and added a sack and a TFL in Big 12 Championship versus No. 21 Nebraska ... tallied six tackles and a sack in the BCS Championship game against No. 1 Alabama.
SOPHOMORE (2008)
Appeared in all 13 games at defensive end and on special teams ... tabbed first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 6 ... a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection ... helped UT rank first in the Big 12 in scoring defense (18.8 ppg/18th NCAA), total defense (342.9 ypg), rushing defense (83.5 ypg/third NCAA) and second in pass efficiency defense (124.2 rating) ... recorded 16 tackles, three sacks, three TFL, nine pressures, two PBD and a forced fumble ... posted two pressures in the season opener against FAU ... notched two tackles and his first career forced fumble at UTEP ... recorded three tackles and a sack versus Rice ... tallied two tackles and a pressure against Arkansas ... added a tackle at Colorado and a pressure versus No. 1 Oklahoma ... posted a tackle and a PBD against No. 11 Missouri ... posted a tackle and a pressure at No. 7 Texas Tech ... notched two tackles, a PBU and a pressure against Baylor ... compiled two tackles, two pressures and a sack at Kansas ... recorded a sack and a pressure against Texas A&M ... notched a tackle versus No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
FRESHMAN (2007)
Appeared in 11 games at defensive end and on special teams ... named one of UT's Outstanding Defensive Newcomers ... helped UT give up just 93.4 rushing yards per game (sixth NCAA) ... tallied 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three TFL, two pressures and two PBD ... recorded his first career tackle, while tallying a sack and a pressure against Rice ... posted a tackle at Iowa State ... recorded three tackles, including a half-sack, and a pressure at Baylor ... notched a tackle versus Texas Tech ... added a tackle against No. 12 Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Hayward Lee at St. Mark's ... a three-time All-Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) performer who was also a four-year member of the honor roll ... versatile three-sport letterman who was a member of ESPN's top 150 national prospects ... led St. Mark's to a 24-7 record during his final three seasons and an SPC Championship as a sophomore ... team captain as a junior and senior ... played DT as a freshman and DE and TE as a sophomore, junior and senior ... recorded 12 sacks as a senior ... posted four sacks in a game against Casady ... led the Lions to a 9-2 record and a berth in the SPC Championship game as a junior ... notched 10 sacks ... helped St. Mark's to a 10-1 season and an SPC Championship as as sophomore ... also was a four-year letterman in track and field and a three-year letterman in basketball ... was a two-year captain in track and field ... holds the school record in the discus (163-5) and the shot put (57-9.25) ... won SPC Championships in the discus and shot put as a junior and senior and the discus as a sophomore ... competed in the Texas Relays three times ... averaged 12 ppg and 15 rpg in basketball as a senior.
PERSONAL
Born in Dallas, Texas ... middle name, Onyedikachi, means `who is like unto God' ... majoring in business (business honors program) and marketing ... a 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American ... a 2008 Academic All-District 6 selection ... a five-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... a 2009 Arthur Ashe Award recipient (national award for minority student-athletes) ... brother, Emmanuel, is a linebacker at UT ... both parents, Sonni and Christie, were born in Nigeria ... mom, Christi, ran track at University College Hospital in Nigeria ... active in UT's community service program ... is part of a group of Longhorns that regularly visits patients at the Dell Children's Medical Center ... was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the Intercultural Club and the student government ... was a class representative as a senior and class vice president as a sophomore ... is close to being fluent in Spanish ... spent time at the Jubilee Community Center helping teach adults English as a second language ... joined his brother, Emmanuel, and father among others on a medical mission trip to Nigeria in the summer of 2009 ... a member of UT's Student Advisory Council ... was UT's representative at the 2009 NCAA Leadership Conference ... volunteers time to special events for local homeless shelters ... participated in UT's Orange Santa program ... completed a marketing internship with Target in 2009.
THE S. ACHO FILE
Nicknames: Big Sam, Sacho
During pregame, I like to: Focus
Favorite TV channel: ESPN
Favorite TV show: Heroes
I can't believe I watch: Millionaire Matchmaker
Favorite movie: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Favorite actor: Denzel Washington
Favorite actress: Halle Berry
Sports hero: Julius Peppers
Favorite superhero: The Chameleon
Favorite music artist: Kirk Franklin
Favorite video game: FIFA '09
Favorite cartoon characters: Thundercats
Nobody knows I can: Recite pieces of literature
I came to Texas because: The academics and family atmosphere
