A.J. Tarpley Class: Senior Hometown: Plymouth, MN High School: Wayzata Height / Weight: 6-2 / 237 Position: ILB

Feature Stories: 10/12/11 on Patch.com

2013 (JUNIOR):Most underrated performer on the Stanford defense...played in all 14 games, starting the opener and final 10 games of the season at inside linebacker...amassed 66 tackles (40 solo) including 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks...recorded an interception and five pass breakups on the season...had a game-high nine tackles (six solo) against Wisconsin in a Rose Bowl victory...among seven tackles (five solo) at Notre Dame, notched a six-yard sack of Everett Golson to set up the ensuing defensive touchdown...snared an interception at No. 1 Oregon to end the Ducks' final offensive possession of the first half, in addition to five tackles (four solo), a solo sack and a pass breakup...made seven tackles (four solo) with two solo TFL and one sack in the Pac-12 North clinching win at UCLA...repeated seven tackles (four solo) the next week against the Bruins in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game...notched seven tackles (three solo) and a half-TFL in the overtime win vs. Arizona...had five tackles (three solo) and a TFL vs. Washington State...recorded a pass breakup and six tackles (three solo) in the Big Game win at Cal...recovered a fumble at Colorado mid-air on a bang-bang play that resembled an interception after an Alex Carter breakup but was ruled a Buffs catch and forced fumble.

2011 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in all 13 games and started seven of the last eight games at inside linebacker...finished as the team's third-leading tackler with 57 stops...also had 1.5 sacks among his 4.0 tackles for loss...had one interception and a fumble recovery, both against USC...came off the bench for the first five games, rotating with Max Bergen and Jarek Lancaster...showed positive signs with a seven-tackle effort at Duke in Week Two...had three tackles in each of the next three games against Arizona, UCLA and Colorado...made his first career start at Washington State...had a season-high nine tackles at USC...intercepted a Matt Barkley pass in the first quarter...also recovered Curtis McNeal's fumble in the end zone to end the triple-overtime thriller...had eight stops against Cal in the Big Game...recorded his first solo sack against Notre Dame....credited with four tackles against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.

2010 (FRESHMAN): Did not see action.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minn....played for head coach Brad Anderson...listed as the 62nd best outside linebacker in the nation by Scout.com and 68th by Rivals.com...three-year varsity letterwinner...credited with 85 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior...had interception returns of 56 and 74 yards for touchdowns... also caught 12 passes for 217 yards and six touchdowns as a tight end...totaled 168 tackles, 36 tackles-for-loss, four sacks and six interceptions over his three-year varsity career...finished with 72 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss and four interceptions as a junior...earned Associated Press first team all-state honors as a senior...also picked up all-state accolades from the Pioneer Press and Minnesota Vikings...named Minneapolis Star Tribune's Metro Player of the Year...also earned Minnesota Gatorade Football Player of the Year honors...was invited to participate in "USA vs. the World" all-star game...helped the Trojans to Classic Lake Conference and Section 5A titles as a senior...parents are Audie and Karen Tarpley...has one older brother, Matt, who plays football at Ole Miss...father played football at Georgia Tech from 1976-79...born in Torrance, Calif....full name is Aubrey Joseph Tarpley...majoring in science, technology & society (information science & technology in society).

CAREER STATISTICS

Career Highs
Tackles: 9 at USC, 2011
Tackles for Loss: 1.0, three times; last vs. Notre Dame, 2011
Sacks: 1.0 vs. Notre Dame, 2011
Interceptions: 1 vs. USC, 2011