ASU # 25
Billy Riddle
Defensive Back - DB
Height: 5-11 Weight: 198
Senior
Previous Affiliations Davie County
Mocksville, N.C.
Inspirational leader returns to team after missing last season while serving as a missionary in Sudan ... was likely to log significant minutes in the defensive backfield and on special teams last season before making decision to help the people of the war-torn African nation ... if, as expected, he returns to “game shape,” an especially tough task due to two bouts with malaria that he contracted while in Africa, he will be a major contributor both in the defensive backfield and on special teams in ‘08 ... one of only two players on the squad that saw playing time for Appalachian in 2004 — the last season that ASU did not win the national title (LB Pierre Banks is the other).
2007: Redshirted ... would have likely seen significant minutes both in the secondary and on special teams, but chose to serve a seven-month mission with Samaritan’s Purse in southern Sudan ... he first visited the war-torn African nation for two months in the summer of ‘07 and upon his return, informed ASU head coach Jerry Moore that he had a calling to return and would forego his senior season to do so ... while serving as a missionary, he helped rebuild churches that were destroyed by the civil war that the country has endured for the better part of the last five decades ... lived in a village that was within miles of dangerous rebel forces ... suffered from two bouts of malaria — one while in Africa and a relapse in May 2008 after he returned to the U.S.
2006: Played in 12 games, including starts in place of injured Corey Lynch in the regular-season finale at Western Carolina and NCAA Div. I playoffs opener versus Coastal Carolina ... Riddle filled in quite capably for Lynch, making four stops after the injury against The Citadel and seven at WCU ... unfortunately, it was Riddle who went down with an ankle injury versus CCU and he would be lost for the rest of the postseason ... finished the season with 23 tackles (13 solo), including one for a two-yard loss vs. The Citadel.
2005: Played in 14 games, mainly on special teams ... registered 13 tackles on the campaign ... notched season-high three stops at The Citadel ... had three multi-tackle games altogether, including two solo stops against Northern Iowa in national championship game.
2004: Played in 10 games, primarily on special teams ... made 13 tackles on the season (seven solo) ... turned in best defensive performance of the season with a six-tackle performance versus Elon ... returned three short kickoffs, averaging 8.3 yards per return ... recovered a fumble at nationally ranked Northwestern State and forced a cough-up versus Elon.
High School: Received all-Northwest honors from Winston-Salem Journal after a senior season in which he registered 157 tackles, five interceptions and two blocked kicks ... led the Eagles to a 9-5 record and a trip to the state quarterfinals as a senior ... finished his prep career with 392 tackles and 10 interceptions to go with 24 pass deflections ... named all-Central Piedmont 4A Conference after both his junior and senior seasons ... coached by Doug Illing ... a three-time all-league honoree in wrestling ... three-sport athlete, lettering four times in track and field and three times each in both football and wrestling.
Personal: Full name is Billy Stan Riddle, Jr. ... born Oct. 7, 1985 (turns 23 during season) ... son of Cathy and Stan Riddle ... is a sought-after speaker at church and civic events in light of his work in Sudan ... is in the process of developing a non-profit organization, “Why The Woods,” to aid the people of Sudan ... majoring in English ... plans to continue work on bachelor’s degree during fall and spring semesters, then return to Sudan for two months before coming back to ASU to complete his degree in fall of ‘09.
