Friday marks 20th season of the Senior Tackle tradition

Friday marks 20th season of the Senior Tackle tradition

11/23/2016 5:53:00 PM | Football

The day before Fresno State closes out the season, 14 seniors will take part in a tradition started in 1997

By: Matt Burkholder / Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State football team will hold Senior Tackle on Friday at approximately 2 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

(Please note that the team will hold a one hour practice prior to senior tackle and that the general public will not be permitted to enter the stadium until the conclusion of practice.)

Friday marks the 20th Senior Tackle, a tradition started by Pat Hill in his first season as the Bulldogs' head coach.

Senior Tackle signifies a Bulldogs' last tackle in practice while also being an opportunity to address teammates and coaches, and family and friends, before they run down a tunnel made up of those in attendance, and tackle a dummy at the end of the tunnel.

19 seniors are about to embark on an annual tradition - Senior Tackle. #BulldogBornBulldogBred https://t.co/Ov5h2Wtyxs
— Fresno State FB (@FresnoStateFB) November 29, 2014

This season, 14 seniors will take part in senior tackle, they are:

• #2 Jamal Ellis - Current team leader in career starts with 31 (23 consecutive). Has 143 career tackles, three interceptions and 21 pass breakups in 46 career games.
• #5 Dalen Jones - Has played in 44 career games (12 starts). Started the 2013 MW Championship game at strong safety and led the defense with one interception, one sack and three tackles in that game. For his career, he has 60 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks and one INT.
• #7 Aaron Peck - Has played in 43 career games (22 starts). Owns 87 career receptions for 1,148 yards and six TDs. Chipped in five receptions for 57 yards in the 2013 MW Championship game. Owns Fresno State's second-longest play from scrimmage this season - an 80-yard TD catch at UNLV.
• #10 Zach Kline - The graduate-transfer from Cal earned his first career start at Fresno State last weekend and is projected to be the Bulldogs' starter in the season finale.
• #15 Stratton Brown - After seeing playing time in 23 games entering his senior year, Brown has started all 11 games at strong safety in 2016 - he has posted 100 of his 121 career tackles during his senior season. Transferred to FS in 2014 from Snow College (Utah).
• #19 Brandon Hughes - Played in 41 career games (nine starts) as a Bulldog.. He posted 101 tackles, 11 TFLs and 3.5 sacks as an outside linebacker.
• #25 Tyquwan Glass - Has played in 22 career games and started the last 18 of 19 games for the Bulldogs at cornerback. He has six career interceptions and 11 career tackles. Transferred to Fresno State from Mt. San Antonio College.
• #26 Alan Wright - He has played in 23 career games and made two starts (both in 2015). Owns 24 career tackles. Transferred to FS in 2015 from Blinn College (Texas).
• #42 Jeff Camilli - In four seasons, has played in 42 games and made 20 starts. Has been the backbone of the Fresno State linebacking core over the last two seasons, recording 172 tackles in that span. Camilli has registered 218 career tackles, posted 14 TFLs, four sacks and two INTs and even caught a pass in 2014 as a sophomore.
• #57 Justin Verrell - Earned scholarship prior to senior season and has played in all 11 games in 2016 as the primary long-snapper. Transferred to FS in 2014 from Bakersfield College.
• #75 Jacob Vazquez - The offensive lineman has played in 19 career games and started in 13 of those games. Transferred to FS in 2014 from Butte College.
• #87 Michael Martens - Has played in 20 games and made one career start (2015 at Air Force). Owns five career receptions for 72 yards. Transferred to FS in 2014 from Azusa Pacific.
• #92 Wyatt McBee - Has played in nine career games and posted three tackles. Recorded first TFL last time out vs. Hawai'i. Transferred to FS in 2015 from Fresno City College.
• #99 Nick Kristofors - Has played in all 23 games since coming to Fresno State, including starting at defensive end in all 11 games in 2016. Owns 36 career tackles and one TFL. Transferred to FS in 2015 from Santa Rosa Junior College.

The final home game of the season kicks off at 12:30 p.m. vs. San Jose State on Saturday. It will be the 80th all-time meeting between the two schools - the longest-running series the Bulldogs have against any other school in the country.

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