45  Matt Rupp Class: Senior Hometown: Laguna Beach, Calif. High School: Santa Margarita Height / Weight: 6-3 / 286 Position: DT Birthdate: 12/05/1985 Experience: 2L

2008 (Senior)
Started all 13 games, including the New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 20), at nose guard...Notched 21 tackles on the year (nine solo), with 1½ stops for loss and a fumble recovery...Recorded his fourth-career fumble recovery, at Cal (Sept. 27), when Mike Pagnotta forced Bears RB Shane Vereen, who'd taken a direct snap, to cough up the ball inside the Rams' 10, keeping Cal's lead at just 14 points...In second quarter of tough 45-42 loss vs. No. 17 BYU (Nov. 1), beat his blocker and dropped RB Harvey Unga for a 2-yard loss inside the Cougars' 5-yard line; BYU eventually had to punt from its own end zone, and CSU scored a go-ahead TD with a short field on the ensuing possession...In fourth quarter of final home game, an important win vs. New Mexico (Nov. 15), hurried QB Brad Gruner into an incompletion on the Lobos' final drive.

2007 (Junior)
The team's top reserve lineman, played in all 12 contests with two starts, and recorded 24 tackles (six solo), two stops for loss, 1½ sacks, two fumble recoveries (one of which he returned for a TD) and one forced fumble...At Houston (Sept. 22), collected a career-high 10 stops (one solo) -- tripling his previous personal best -- including 1½ sacks and two tackles for loss; forced a Blake Joseph fumble on his second sack, in the second quarter...Earlier in Cougars contest, combined with Jake Pottorff to sack Joseph on third down, forcing a field goal attempt...His hurry forced a third-down incompletion to force a first-quarter punt vs. San Diego State (Oct. 6)...Scooped up a Chad Hall fumble in the fourth quarter vs. Air Force (Oct. 13) and returned it 48 yards for his first career touchdown...Made his season's first start in emotional first victory at UNLV (Oct. 20)...At BYU (Nov. 3), pounced on a fumble forced by Jake Galusha's sack late in the first half.

2006 (Sophomore)
Played in all 12 games, starting two...Led the team with four sacks...Recorded one tackle for loss at San Diego State (Dec. 2)...Made three total tackles at Utah (Nov. 11)...Made three total tackles and one sack vs. BYU (Nov. 4)...Recorded one sack vs. UNLV (Oct. 7)...Had two sacks against Weber State (Sept. 2).

2005 (Freshman)
Played in 10 games, including the Poinsettia Bowl against Navy (Dec. 22), and his first three college starts...Had a sack, two tackles for loss and three total stops at TCU (Nov. 5)...Made initial college start, at New Mexico (Oct. 28)...Had one tackle for a 2-yard loss and returned a Cowboys fumble 20 yards to the 2-yard line vs. Wyoming (Oct. 22)...Made first career sack, against Nevada (Sept. 24).

2004
Saw limited playing time in the season's first few games before sustaining a concussion on the opening kickoff vs. Montana State (Sept. 25); applied for a medical hardship.

High School
A three-year varsity starter, earned defensive MVP honors in the Sierra League as a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Laguna Beach, Calif. ...Earned 11 player of the game awards in just 33 contests played over his career...Garnered all-Orange County honors and was his team's defensive MVP...Holds school records for sacks in a career (32), season (13½) and game (4)...Helped SMCHS to the Sierra League championship as a sophomore...Was ranked 89th among California recruits by SuperPrep.com...Also wrestled as a heavyweight and holds weightlifting records in the power clean and squat...Earned a spot on his high school's honor roll...Head football coach was Jim Hartigan.

Personal
Given name Matthew A. Rupp...Born Dec. 5, 1985, in Anaheim, Calif. ...Son of Henry Rupp and Theresa Dole...Majoring in liberal arts...Hometown: Laguna Beach, Calif.