Steve Ackley

Class:
Junior
Position:
DL
Height:
6-3
Weight:
250
Prev School:
Spring Hill
Hometown:
Columbia, Tenn.

Enters the season as a starting defensive end … possesses a lot of physical talent … is a versatile athlete … specializes in defending the run … will also help in the Flames' pass defense … possesses outstanding football instincts … can play low to the ground … plays with great leverage … tough competitor … gets off the block well … Big South all-conference potential … named to the I-AA.org Big South Preseason second-team all-conference team.

2005 (So.): Played in 10 games and started eight contests … finished 10^th on the team with a career-best 41 tackles … finished ninth in the Big South Conference among linemen as he averaged 4.1 tackles per contest … 16 solo tackles and 25 assisted tackles … ranked third on the team with 8.5 tackles for a loss of 35 total yards … ranked seventh in the conference as he averaged 0.35 sacks per game … ranked fourth on the team with four quarterback hurries … added a fumble recovery and a forced fumble … four tackles and a quarterback hurry against Youngstown State (9/17) and 16^th-ranked William & Mary (9/24) … three tackles, including two solo stops and a tackle for a loss against VMI (10/1) … four tackles and a quarterback hurry against 14^th-ranked Coastal Carolina (10/22) … eight tackles, including five assisted stops, two tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks against conference foe Gardner-Webb (10/29) … five tackles, including two tackles for a loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble at Charleston Southern (11/12) … finished the year strong with a season-best 10 tackles against Norfolk State (11/19), including three solo stops and seven assisted tackles while adding 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.

2004 (Fr.): Member of the Big South Presidential Honor Roll … played in all 11 games and started seven out of the last eight games as a true freshman … finished ninth on the team with 39 total tackles, including 16 solo stops and 23 assisted tackles … finished tied for the team lead and tied for third in the Big South Conference with two forced fumbles … finished 10^th in the Big South in total tackles amongst defensive linemen and eighth amongst freshmen defenders … ranked third on the team with 5.5 tackles for a loss of 12 total yards … ranked second on the team with five quarterback hurries … three tackles, including two assisted tackles in his first collegiate game against West Virginia Tech (9/4) … three stops, including two solo tackles at Kent State (9/11) … three assisted tackles and a quarterback hurry against 24^th-ranked Lehigh (9/18) … tied a season-best with six tackles, including four solo tackles, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback hurry against Gardner-Webb (10/2) … recorded a season-high five assisted tackles against 18^th-ranked William & Mary (10/9) … tied a season-best with six tackles, including five assisted stops at Coastal Carolina (10/23) … finished with a season high two quarterback hurries against Charleston Southern (10/30) … four solo stops at VMI (11/6) … three solo tackles, two fumble recoveries and a fumble return at Chattanooga (11/13) … five tackles, including an assisted tackle for a loss against Elon (11/20).

Prep: Graduated from Spring Hill High School … three-year letterwinner … finished his prep career with 145 total tackles, including 20 sacks … second-team all-state academic honor roll … team MVP … all-region honoree … all-Mid State selection … honorable mention all-state player … was a captain in the Post Graduate Program at Hargrave Military Academy … closely involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … voted Gentleman Raider.

Personal: Son of Robert and Janice Ackley … birthday is on June 18 … majoring in sport management … would like to pursue a career in coaching after graduation.