Aaron Rouse Season 2006

36 - Aaron RousePosition: Rover
Class: r-Senior
Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 227 lbs.

High School: First Colonial
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.

Took on more of a leadership role during the spring and is expected to be one of the key players on the 2006 team ... Is ranked the No. 3 strong safety in the nation by The Sporting News, which also selected him a first-team preseason All-ACC player ... Made an impact as the Hokies' starting rover last fall ... Ranked third on the team in tackles with 77 ... Led the squad in interceptions with four ... Preserved Tech's opening-game win at NC State with a last-second pick ... Had 13 tackles against No. 5 Miami ... A hard hitter with great range and speed ... Improved on reading his keys during the spring, which allows him to play even faster ... A good tackler who excels in run support ... Has also become a good pass defender ... Mixes good football instincts with big-play ability ... Has come into his own as a player and a person.

2005: The starter in every game at rover ... Was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week after intercepting two passes and causing a fumble in the opening game against NC State ... Also had eight tackles and broke up two other passes in that game ... Turned in three tackles and broke up a pass at Duke ... Recovered a fumble that set up a touchdown and posted three tackles against West Virginia ... Had four tackles, including one for a loss, versus Marshall ... Posted a tackle for loss and five total tackles at Maryland ... Led the team with 13 tackles versus Miami ... Also broke up a pass in that game ... Picked off two passes against Virginia ... Also had eight tackles, one for a loss, in that game ... Had 10 tackles and broke up a pass against North Carolina ... Added 10 more tackles in the FSU game ... Had four tackles against Louisville in the Gator Bowl ... Finished the season with 77 total tackles to go with 4.5 TFL, four interceptions and five pass breakups ... Had a sack and two tackles during the first scrimmage of the spring ... Contributed three tackles during the Maroon-White game ... Won the President's Award for the defensive player who showed the most outstanding leadership during off-season program and spring practice.

2004: Saw action in all 13 games, recording 16 solo stops and 21 assists ... Was in for 284 defensive plays and 50 on special teams in the regular season ... Included in those 37 stops were 2.5 tackles for loss ... Also had one forced fumble ... Played 36 snaps on defense against WMU, recording two solo tackles, an assist and a forced fumble ... Had five total tackles against Duke ... Was in on five tackles, including .5 for loss, against NC State ... Had four tackles, including one for a loss, in the win over Maryland ... Had five tackles in the Sugar Bowl against Auburn ... Scored the spring game's lone touchdown on a 29-yard interception return of a Sean Glennon pass in the second half ... Posted a 550-pound back squat, a 300-pound push jerk, a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 4.44 40-yard dash in spring testing.

2003: Played in all 13 games, starting one ... Named to the 2003 Rivals.com Freshman All-America football team as an honorable mention selection ... Made his first collegiate start against James Madison ... Played 39 defensive plays and three on special teams against the Dukes, registering four solo tackles, seven assists and a forced fumble ... Was in on four tackles, including one behind the line, against Cal in the Insight Bowl ... Also broke up two passes in that game ... Had a 460-pound back squat during spring testing ... Missed the 2004 spring game due to a sprained left knee.

2002: Spent the fall working at whip linebacker while taking a redshirt year ... Had a 400-pound back squat during spring max testing ... Turned in a 4.44 clocking in the forty ... Contributed a quarterback sack and three total tackles during the Maroon-White game ... Also broke up a pass.

High School: A PrepStar All-American who was named the defensive player of the year in the Beach District as a senior ... Saw action as a wide receiver, safety, linebacker, running back and cornerback during his varsity career for coaches Sam Scarborough and Frank Webster at First Colonial ... Posted 85 tackles in 2001, including a pair of sacks ... Intercepted five passes, recovered three fumbles and blocked three kicks ... Caught 13 passes for 390 yards and four TDs as a receiver ... Registered 11 solo tackles and scored a touchdown against Princess Anne his senior year ... Was first-team all-district, all-Tidewater and all-region as a senior ... Named first-team Group AAA by The Associated Press and second-team by the state coaches as a defensive back ... Ranked the No. 32 safety in the nation by Rivals ... Rated the No. 9 defensive back in the Atlantic Region by PrepStar ... Listed as the No. 79 player in the Mid-Atlantic Region by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report ... Ranked the No. 24 player in Virginia by SuperPrep and the No. 24 player by The Roanoke Times ... Finished his junior season with 71 tackles, eight sacks and three interceptions ... Posted a game-saving interception against Ocean Lakes ... Named first-team all-district and second-team all-Tidewater ... Blocked a school-record eight kicks during his career ... Had 176 career tackles and nine interceptions ... Also lettered in basketball.

Personal: Aaron Roosevelt Rouse ... Born 1/8/84 in Norfolk, VA ... Son of Nadine Rouse ... Majoring in sociology.

- INTEGRITY - SERVICE - HONOR - EXCELLENCE - STRONG TOGETHER