2022 Football Roster
Jersey Number 27
LJ Early
- Position:
- DB
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 183
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Tulare, Calif.
- High School:
- Tulare Western HS
- Prev School:
- Bakersfield College
Bio
2022 (SENIOR*): Appeared in 13 games … started in 12 at safety for Fresno State … totaled 40 tackles on the season (31 solo) … had one interception on the road against Nevada (Nov. 19) … had a second interception in the LA Bowl game against Washington State (Dec. 17) … added 10 broken up passes, a team-high … had a career-high seven tackles twice this season, both against Boise State (Oct. 8, Dec. 3) … had at least one tackle in every game this season … had two pass breakups in three games … led the team in tackles once this season - in the MW Championship Game against Boise State (Dec. 3) ... ... MW scholar athlete ... utilized the additional year of eligibility approved by the NCAA in the fall of 2020. The NCAA approved a blanket waiver for all 2020 fall sports student-athletes to retain a year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... Fall Academic All-MW.
2021 (SENIOR): Played in all 13 games and had three starts … saw action as a safety and on special teams … recorded 33 total tackles, 28 solo stops … had a career-high seven tackles at Hawai’i (Oct. 2) … had at least one tackle in all but one game on the season … grabbed his first career interception at Wyoming (Oct. 16), returned it for 12 yards … had four broken up passes on the year … also added 2.0 tackles for loss … part of a Bulldog defense who only allowed 20.5 points per game this season, while also holding two opponents scoreless. It was the first time since 2017 that a Fresno State team had multiple shutouts in a season … helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road. It was the first time Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004, and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program.
2020 (R-JUNIOR): Played the final three games of the season after missing the beginning of the year due to injury rehab … got the start at Nevada (Dec. 5) and against New Mexico (Dec. 12) … had 12 tackles (nine solo) in the season … had a career-best five tackles at Utah State … had three tackles and a broken up pass in his Bulldog debut at Nevada.
2019 (JUNIOR): Redshirted.
PRIOR TO FRESNO STATE: Transferred to Fresno State from Bakersfield College ... appeared in 10 games during the 2018 season ... racked up 33 solo tackles and 14 assisted in 2018 ... averaged 4.7 tackles per game ... had two sacks for a loss of 13 yards for the Renegades ... recorded four interceptions for a return of 36 yards in 2018 ... also had five broken up passes ... was an All-Conference honorable mention selection.
HIGH SCHOOL: A Valley product out of Tulare Western High School ... was a three year varsity team member ... played in 32 career high school games ... totaled 124 tackles with 50 in his senior season ... averaged 4.5 tackles a game in his junior and senior seasons ... had two interceptions for 90 yards as a senior ... helped the Mustangs to a 10-4 record and league championship title as a senior team captain.
PERSONAL: Born in Tulare, Calif. ... son of Louis and Maria Early ... has an older sister, Monica ... enjoys playing video games and lifting weights ... favorite athlete is Cam Newton because of his composure and passion for football ... biggest athletic thrill is getting an interception or a big hit ... chose to attend Fresno State because it was a good fit for him ... is majoring in africana studies.
2021 (SENIOR): Played in all 13 games and had three starts … saw action as a safety and on special teams … recorded 33 total tackles, 28 solo stops … had a career-high seven tackles at Hawai’i (Oct. 2) … had at least one tackle in all but one game on the season … grabbed his first career interception at Wyoming (Oct. 16), returned it for 12 yards … had four broken up passes on the year … also added 2.0 tackles for loss … part of a Bulldog defense who only allowed 20.5 points per game this season, while also holding two opponents scoreless. It was the first time since 2017 that a Fresno State team had multiple shutouts in a season … helped Fresno State to two wins over ranked opponents, both on the road. It was the first time Fresno State defeated two Top 25 opponents in a season for the first time since 2004, and the first time both wins came on the road in the 100 year history of the program.
2020 (R-JUNIOR): Played the final three games of the season after missing the beginning of the year due to injury rehab … got the start at Nevada (Dec. 5) and against New Mexico (Dec. 12) … had 12 tackles (nine solo) in the season … had a career-best five tackles at Utah State … had three tackles and a broken up pass in his Bulldog debut at Nevada.
2019 (JUNIOR): Redshirted.
PRIOR TO FRESNO STATE: Transferred to Fresno State from Bakersfield College ... appeared in 10 games during the 2018 season ... racked up 33 solo tackles and 14 assisted in 2018 ... averaged 4.7 tackles per game ... had two sacks for a loss of 13 yards for the Renegades ... recorded four interceptions for a return of 36 yards in 2018 ... also had five broken up passes ... was an All-Conference honorable mention selection.
HIGH SCHOOL: A Valley product out of Tulare Western High School ... was a three year varsity team member ... played in 32 career high school games ... totaled 124 tackles with 50 in his senior season ... averaged 4.5 tackles a game in his junior and senior seasons ... had two interceptions for 90 yards as a senior ... helped the Mustangs to a 10-4 record and league championship title as a senior team captain.
PERSONAL: Born in Tulare, Calif. ... son of Louis and Maria Early ... has an older sister, Monica ... enjoys playing video games and lifting weights ... favorite athlete is Cam Newton because of his composure and passion for football ... biggest athletic thrill is getting an interception or a big hit ... chose to attend Fresno State because it was a good fit for him ... is majoring in africana studies.