Sam Acho
 Acho in 2012 training camp. | |||||||||||
| No. 49 – Chicago Bears | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Outside Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | September 6, 1988 Dallas, Texas | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 257 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College: | Texas | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2011 / round: 4 / pick: 103 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2015 | |||||||||||
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Samuel Onyedikachi Acho (born September 6, 1988) is an American football outside linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Acho played college football at the University of Texas. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Early years
Acho attended St. Mark's School in Dallas, Texas. Starring for the football team, Acho had 12 sacks as a senior and 10 as a junior and was a team co-captain both years. He was also the state private school champion in both the shot put and discus.
College career
As a freshman at the University of Texas, Acho played in 11 games, recording six tackles and a sack. As a sophomore in 2008, he recorded 15 tackles and three sacks. As a junior in 2009, Acho started all 14 games and was named honorable mention All-Big 12 by The Associated Press after recording 55 tackles and eight sacks.
After his senior season in 2010 season, Acho was voted team MVP.[1] He also won the William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to college football's top scholar-athlete, and was a finalist for the Lott Trophy. During that senior year, the Sporting News named Acho one of the 20 smartest athletes in sports, a list that included two other college players and 17 professionals from the four major American sports.
Professional career
Arizona Cardinals
Acho was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 103rd pick overall of the 2011 NFL Draft. In his rookie season as a Cardinal, he made 40 tackles, had 7 sacks, and generated 4 forced fumbles. Acho's 7 sacks are the second most ever by a Cardinals rookie, trailing Simeon Rice’s 12.5 in 1996.[2] On October 23, 2011, Acho recorded his first career sack in a 32-20 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[3] On October 30, 2011, Acho recorded his first career forced fumble in a 30-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.[4] On October 21, 2012 Acho recorded his first career interception in a 21-14 loss against the Minnesota Vikings.[5] Acho started all 16 contests for the Cardinals, putting together career-highs in tackles (45), sacks (4), interceptions (2), pass break-ups (3), quarterback hits (12) and tackles for losses (6) in 2012.[2] On September 23, it was announced that he would miss the rest of 2013 season and be placed on injured reserve due to a break in his leg in the Week 3 loss to the New Orleans Saints.[6][7]
Chicago Bears
On April 1, 2015, Acho signed a one year deal with the Chicago Bears.[8]
Personal
Acho's brother, Emmanuel Acho, also played football for Texas, where he was a consensus All Big 12 linebacker in 2011.[9] Emmanuel is currently with the Philadelphia Eagles.
References
- ^ Texas teammates name Sam Acho their top player
- ^ a b "Chicago Bears: Sam Acho". www.chicagobears.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
- ^ "Steelers vs. Cardinals - Box Score - October 23, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
- ^ "Sam Acho: Game Logs at NFL.com". www.nfl.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
- ^ "Cardinals vs. Vikings - Box Score - October 21, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
- ^ Urban, Darren (September 23, 2013). "Linebacker Loss With Sam Acho, Lorenzo Alexander". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (September 23, 2013). "Cardinals put Alexander and Acho on IR". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
- ^ Bears ink Sam Acho to one-year deal
- ^ Brothers Sam and Emmanuel Acho star on defense for Texas Longhorns while maintaining academic excellence