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2005 First Team All-MAAC
2005 ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-America
2005 Division I-AA Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team
Enters the season tops among returnees with 8.5 career sacks ... two year starter at defensive tackle (sophomore) and defensive end (junior) ... was a first team all-league pick last season.
As a junior (2005): Started seven times at defensive end and once at defensive tackle for a DU unit that ranked first nationally in total defense ... missed the second and third games of the season with a shoulder injury ... finished eighth on the team with 39 tackles despite missing the two games ... added 8.5 tackles for loss (-41), broke up three passes and forced a pair of fumbles ... recorded a career-high 11 tackles (five solo) in a 31-17 win at Iona ... added seven stops at Marist.
As a sophomore (2004): Played in all ten games and started the first eight at defensive tackle ... finished ninth on the team with 36 tackles ... also added 4.5 sacks for minus 45 yards ... broke up three passes, forced one fumble and recovered a fumble ... had a season-high nine tackles vs. Marist ... added six stops vs. both Georgetown and Fordham.
As a freshman (2003): Saw action in all 11 games as a member of the special teams ... recorded his first career tackle in the second game of the season vs. Butler.
Personal: became just the fourth football player in DU history to earn Academic All-America honors when he was named second team last season ... has also been named to the 2004 & 2005 MAAC All-Academic Teams ... major: secondary education/citizenship ... date of birth: 12/6/84.
Esdale's career statistics
defense
Year G/GS TT (solo) Sacks TFL Int-Yds. PBU FF/FR 2003 11/0 1 (1) 0.0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0/0 2004 10/8 36 (11) 4.5-32 7-35 0-0 3 1/1 2005 8/8 39 (20) 4.0-25 8.5-41 0-0 3 2/1 Totals 29/16 76 (32) 8.5-57 15.5-76 0-0 6 3/2top tackle games: TT (solo) Opponent Year 11 (5) at Iona 2005 9 (0) vs. Marist 2004 7 (2) at Marist 2005
