| Sam Acho |
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 | Class:
Junior
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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:
Jr.-2L
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Career statistics
Third-year defensive end who has played in 37 career games, including 13 starts ... posted 83 tackles (55 solo), 13.5 sacks, 19 TFL, 26 pressures, seven PBD, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles during his career ... started 13 games at defensive end as a junior in 2009 ... a Lott Trophy semifinalist ... an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection ... leads the team with four fumble recoveries , which is tied for the most nationally (t-No. 3 UT single-season) ... also has 57 tackles (40 solo), 13 TFL, nine 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 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 13 games at defensive end ... a Lott Trophy semifinalist ... tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 by The Associated Press and league's coaches ... named the team's Most Productive Performer on defense for efforts against ULM and Baylor ... helped UT rank eighth nationally in scoring defense (15.2 ppg), third in total defense (251.1 ypg), first in rushing defense (62.2 ypg), 11th in pass efficiency defense (101.3 rating) and 23rd in pass defense (188.9 ypg) ... UT also ranked first nationally in INTs (24) and second in forced turnovers (35) ... leads the team with four fumble recoveries , which is tied for the most nationally (t-No. 3 UT single-season) ... also has 57 tackles (40 solo), 13 TFL, nine 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 verus 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.
SOPHOMORE(2008)
Appeared in all 13 games at defensive end and on special teams ... 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 ... logged 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 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 tory against Rice ... posted a tackle at Iowa State ... recorded three tackles, including a 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 Scott Parker 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 the SPC Championship 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 `one who is like God' ... both parents, Sonny and Christi, were born in Nigeria ... brother, Emmanuel, is a linebacker at UT ... mom, Christi, ran track at University College Hospital in Nigeria ... majoring in business administration ... a three-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... active in UT's community service program ... is part of a group of Longhorns that regularly visits patients at the Austin Children's Hospital ... 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 ... has spent time in the summer taking mission trips to Nigeria where he performs mission work and helps provide medical care ... volunteers time to special events for local homeless shelters ... volunteered to help with landscaping around Richland College.
THE S. ACHO FILE
Nicknames: Big Sam, Macho Acho
During pregame, I like to: Focus
Favorite TV channel: ESPN
Favorite TV show: Heroes
I can't believe I watch: American Idol
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 '08
Favorite cartoon characters: Thundercats
Nobody knows I can: Recite pieces of literature
I came to Texas because: The academics and family atmosphere
