32 DAYS!!!

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ASU # 32

Dexter Coakley (Retired)



April 19, 2005 - BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University alumnus and three-time NFL all-Pro Dexter Coakley became just the seventh person in ASU athletics history to have a number retired.

A three-year all-American and the only two-time winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in I-AA football, Coakley helped lead Appalachian to 32 victories and a pair of I-AA playoff appearances from 1993-96. He is still ASU’s all-time career leader in total tackles (645), solo tackles (362), assisted tackles (283), double-figure tackle games (38), 20-tackle games (7) and caused fumbles (17).

Coakley became the second-highest drafted player in Mountaineer history when the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the third round (65th overall pick) of the 1997 NFL Draft. In 127 games as a pro, he has registered 687 tackles, 10 interceptions, seven sacks and four forced fumbles and has missed only one game in eight seasons due to injury. After spending the first eight years of his professional career in Dallas, Coakley recently signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams.

“Appalachian is where it all began for me,” Coakley said during a public ceremony at Kidd Brewer Stadium, “and I am truly gracious to be a part of this University. Wherever I go, I say with great pride that I am from Appalachian State University.”

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32 Chris Hardy RB 5-9 160 So-Sq Galena Park

32 CHRIS HARDY

Defensive back 5-9 160 Fr-RS

Galena Park / Galena Park HS
Criminal justice major

Redshirt freshman who will provide depth in secondary and on special teams.
High school -- All-District 19-4A running back for Coach Mike Coker ... led the Yellow Jackets to the district championship with a perfect 10-0 record, earning Galena Park its first trip to the state playoffs since 1982 ... rushed for 1,222 yards and 15 TDs

[enicmt]

#32 Torrey Thomas
Born: 12/26/1985
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 182 lbs.

Year: Senior
Major: Business Administration

Hometown: Dillon, MT

2007 All-Big Sky Preseason Team

Torrey Thomas will be starting at free safety for the third year in a row. He has been one of Montana's leading tacklers the past three seasons and has played in 41 straight games while starting in 26 in a row. He is tied with several former UM players for 13th in career interceptions with nine.

2006: He and junior strong safety Colt Anderson proved to be the most talented duo in the league last season, as both players were first team All-Big Sky Conference choices. Thomas was a third team All-Northwest Region pick by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

He started all 14 games and was UM's eighth leading tackler with 51 stops, and had a team-high four interceptions. He was an All-district VII academic team selection.

2005: He led the Grizzlies and was ranked second in the Big Sky with four interceptions. He started all 12 games and was an all-league honorable mention selection. He was the team's sixth-leading tackler with 47 stops.

He scored the winning points against Weber State on October 1, returning an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, giving UM a 21-10 lead (the Griz won 24-19).

2004: He played in all 15 games and was one of the Grizzlies' leading tacklers as a “true” freshman with 49 stops. He was second (tie) on the team with seven pass deflections. He was the sixth leading returning tackler this season.

High School: Thomas earned 11 letters in high school: four each in football and track and three in basketball. He is ranked third in Montana's high school history in passing yards. He scored 81 career touchdowns. He was chosen all-state three times at safety and twice at quarterback. He was named league offensive MVP twice and league co-defensive MVP once. He led his team to two state championships in football. He participated in Montana's East-West Shrine and the Montana-North Dakota All-Star games.

Defensively, he had 319 career tackles and 16 interceptions. He was a first team all-state pick in basketball as a senior. He was a team captain in football and basketball. His four-year varsity record in football was 35-4. His prep football coach was his dad Terry, a defensive back/punter at Montana from 1978-80.

Personal: He's majoring in business administration. Parents: Terry and Wendie (Carlson) Thomas of Dillon. Birth date: December 26, 1985. Torrey's older brother, Tyler, was a four-year letterman at safety for the Griz from 2002-05. His cousin, Jesse Carlson(97), is a junior defensive tackle at UM. His grandfather, Gene Carlson, was a multi-sport letterman at Montana and Griz head football coach. Torrey is a three-time Big Sky academic team selection.

Career highs: He had nine tackles in UM's FCS semifinal game at home against UMass last season. He had two interceptions at Weber State in 2006. He had a 14-yard interception return for a touchdown against Idaho State at home last year.

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