| Jake Kasser |
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2006: Made the transition from the secondary to linebacker in 2006...Played all 12 games and made three starts for the Tigers...Opened the season with three tackles against Ole Miss...Registered a tackle and a pass breakup against Chattanooga...Tied his career high with six tackles versus both Tennessee and Arkansas State...Logged his first start of the season against the Indians...Credited with three tackles and half a sack against UAB...Tallied two tackles against Tulsa and Southern Miss, and three versus UCF before his breakout game against Houston...Led the Tigers in tackles versus the Cougars with a career-high 11, including eight solo stops...Started the final two games of the season versus UH and UTEP...Sacked Cougar signal caller Kevin Kolb for a loss of seven yards to force a punt at the start of the second quarter...Was key to sending the game to overtime on Houston's last drive of the fourth quarter, which started with just over two minutes left on the clock...On 1st-and-15, sacked Kolb for a 10-yard loss, and on the very next play recovered a fumble forced by Michael Grandberry to give Memphis the ball with 43 seconds remaining in the game...Continued his defensive spark in the win over UTEP, registering eight tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup...Sacked UTEP signal caller Jordan Palmer for a loss of seven yards on 1st-and-goal from the seven...Defensive stop ultimately forced Miners to go for a field goal...Finished the season seventh on the squad in tackles with 46 and second in sacks with 3.5 for minus 26 yards...Received one of the Role Player awards at the postseason team banquet...One of three recipients of the Glenn Jones Award which was presented at the 2007 Blue-Gray Game for demonstrating leadership through determination and courage both on and off the field.
2005: A walk-on candidate for the Memphis defensive unit who opened the 2005 season as the Tiger starter at cat safety...Played in 11 games in 2005, starting in the first three contests of the season...Missed the Motor City Bowl after suffering a torn MCL in his left knee at practice following the season finale against Marshall...Returned for spring practice and was able to fully participate in all drills...Started at left cat safety against Ole Miss and was credited with a career-high six tackles, including one solo hit...Logged three tackles in the win over Chattanooga...Recorded his first career fumble recovery against the Mocs...His 10-yard return set up a Tiger score...Tallied three tackles against Tulsa and Tennessee, and logged a pair of stops against UCF and Houston...Ended the season with 21 tackles and a fumble recovery.
2004: Walk-on who was considered a tremendous surprise in 2004...A play-maker who is a very reliable part of the special teams unit...Saw action in all 12 games as one of just five true freshmen to see significant playing time in 2004...Logged time as a member of the special teams in the season opener against Ole Miss...Served as a member of the kick cover teams...Continued his work with the Tiger special teams against Chattanooga and also played cat safety during the fourth quarter...Logged one tackle in the win over the Mocs...Worked as a cover team member in the Arkansas State victory and had one tackle versus the Indians...Credited with two solo tackles in the contest with UAB...Saw duty in the secondary in Memphis' win over Houston...Had one tackle, a tackle for lost yardage and a quarterback sack for minus 13 yards against the Cougars...Worked at cat safety in the Tigers' win over Tulane...Credited with one tackle against Cincinnati...Posted three tackles in the Tigers' ESPN game against Louisville...Credited with two tackles in the Memphis win over Southern Miss...Tallied one tackle in the Tigers' game with East Carolina...Saw extra duty in the Memphis win over USF, working in the secondary and totaling two tackles and one pass breakup...Logged one tackle and a tackle for a loss of three yards in the GMAC Bowl...Registered 15 tackles, one quarterback sack and one and a half tackles for lost yardage during his first season as a Tiger.
Prep: Three-year letterwinner at Germantown High for Coach Charlie White...Was the co-captain of his squad in 2003...Helped the Red Devils to a 27-2 combined record as a junior and senior...Also led his squad to a 5A State Championship in 2003...Named his team's Best Defensive Player in 2003...Voted as Shelby County's Male Athlete of the Year in 2003 and 2004...Also selected as a first teamer on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association, Tennessee Coaches and Associated Press All-State Teams...Was a finalist for the Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps Defensive Player of the Year Award...Also a finalist for 2003 American General Mr. Football Tennessee Award...Also lettered in baseball at GHS.
Personal: Jake Kasser is the son of Rick and Chris Kasser...Born November 28, 1985, in Kansas City, Mo....His father played football for Southern Illinois University.
KASSER'S STATISTICS
Tackles G/S UT AT Tot. FR Int TFL Sack
2004 12/0 8 7 15 0-0 0-0 1.5-16 1-13
2005 11/3 7 14 21 1-10 0-0 0.0-0 0-0
2006 12/3 27 19 46 1-0 0-0 3.5-26 3.5-26
Total 35/6 42 40 82 2-10 0-0 5-42 4.5-39
KASSER'S CAREER HIGHS
Most Tackles/Game: 11 vs Houston (`06)
Most Solo Tackles/Game: 8 vs Houston (`06)
Most Assisted Tackles/Game: 5 vs Ole Miss (`05)
Most Sacks/Game: 2 vs Houston (`06)
Most Tackles for Loss/Game: 2 vs Houston (`06)
