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Jersey Number 11
Charles Esters III
- Position:
- Outside Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 270
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Cedar Hill, Texas
- High School:
- Cedar Hill
2024 SEASON (JUNIOR)
2023 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
2022 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
2021 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
HIGH SCHOOL
PERSONAL
- Became a regular starter at outside linebacker during Big 12 play after recovering from a preseason injury … started in all nine games played, which came during Big 12 play as well as the AutoZone Liberty Bowl versus Arkansas … missed the first four games of the season due to injury, which included the entire non-conference slate and the Big 12 opener versus Arizona State.
- Finished with 18 tackles on the season (5 solo), including 2.0 for a loss and a shared sack … recorded a tackle in seven of his nine games played and had multiple stops in four different contests … recovered a key fumble in one of the two games without a tackle … added three quarterback hurries and a pass breakup in the official stats as well.Â
- Credited with 349 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus, easily the most in his career … totaled at least 25 snaps in all nine games and was over 40-plus snaps in four different contests … publication awarded him 12 total pressures on the year, which included a sack, four quarterback hits and seven additional hurries … ranked eighth on the team for total pressures by PFF.Â
- Notched multiple tackles four times in a five-game stretch, beginning with three at Arizona (10/5) and then three at TCU (10/26), four at Iowa State (11/2) and then a season-high five versus Colorado (11/9) … had one stop during that stretch against Baylor (10/19), which also included his lone pass breakup on the season.Â
- Followed with one tackle at Oklahoma State (11/23) and in the regular-season finale versus West Virginia (11/30) … had a quarterback hurry in the rout over the Mountaineers as well, which came on West Virginia’s first play of the second half with the Red Raiders already leading 42-3 at the time.Â
- Recorded his lone sack on the year against the Horned Frogs, combining with Brenden Jordan to get to TCU quarterback Josh Hoover for a seven-yard loss … sack came on a 3rd-and-9 to end TCU’s second drive of the game, setting up a shanked punt that gave the Red Raiders great field position for an eventual Gino Garcia field goal.Â
- Came close to his career high with 1.5 tackles for loss in the ranked win over Iowa State … sniffed out a run attempt for a three-yard loss late in the first quarter to set up an eventual turnover on downs by the Cyclones … later caught quarterback Rocco Becht for a one-yard loss on a 3rd-and-10 in the fourth quarter, which led to a missed Iowa State field goal a play later.Â
- Recovered a fumble in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl versus Arkansas (12/27), the first of his career … fumble recovery came early in the second quarter after James Hansen punched loose a run attempt near midfield … the Red Raiders could not capitalize, however, turning over the ball on downs on their next possession.
2023 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
- Earned a larger role in the outside linebacker room as a sophomore … appeared in 12 of 13 games overall with three starts … two of his starts came during Big 12 play with the other in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl versus Cal … missed only the road trip to BYU (10/21) midway through Big 12 play. Â
- Finished with 26 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and 3.0 sacks … added two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a pass breakup … ranked tied for fifth on the team in tackles for loss and was tied for third overall in sacks … recorded his entire season tackle for loss total during either Big 12 play or the bowl win … had at least two tackles in six games overall and had four contests with four or more stops. Â
- Credited with 248 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus … snap count reached double digits in seven of his eight games overall … saw action on special teams mainly in the bowl victory over Cal.\
- Recorded a career high with seven tackles in the second game of the season against Oregon (9/9) … received his second-highest grade of the season by PFF versus the Ducks, finishing at 76.5 overall with a 79.4 grade in rush defense ... notched another multi-tackle performance a few weeks later with two stops versus Houston (9/30).
- Found the quarterback three times (credited with 2.0 sacks) a week later at Baylor (10/7) as part of four tackles and a forced fumble … recorded his first career sack midway through the second quarter, dropping Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen for a nine-yard loss alongside Myles Cole … combined with Jesiah Pierre for a shared sack to start Baylor’s second drive of the third quarter … got in the backfield again on the first play of the fourth quarter for his first career solo sack and forced fumble (Baylor recovered) ... part of a Red Raider defense that found the quarterback six times in the win.
- Followed with two tackles the next week against Kansas State (10/14) … returned from missing the BYU contest to record one tackle in each of the next three games against TCU (11/2), Kansas (11/11) and UCF (11/18).
- Wrapped the regular season with four tackles, a quarterback hurry and his lone pass breakup of the season in the regular-season finale at Texas (11/24) … got home on quarterback Quinn Ewers on Texas’ second drive of the third quarter and followed with a pass breakup on next play to force the Longhorns into a field goal attempt.
- Stood out in the bowl win over Cal (12/16) with four tackles, including 1.5 that went for a loss … started the second half with a negative play, combining with Ben Roberts to drop running back Jadyn Ott for a one-yard loss … previously had a solo tackle for loss midway through the second quarter that helped set up a 3-and-out by the Golden Bears.
2022 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
- Appeared in one game as a redshirt freshman … made his first collegiate tackle in the season opener against Murray State (9/3) … scout team member. Â
- AWARDS AND HONORS: recognized on the Academic All-Big 12 first team for his work in the classroom.
2021 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
- Redshirt season … scout team member … did not see any game action.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Attended Cedar Hill High School in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex … helped Cedar Hill to the District 11-6A Division II title and an appearance in the state finals as a senior ... part of a Cedar Hill defense that notched two shutout wins on its way to the state finals. Â
- Named a second team All-State selection by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA) … unanimous first team All-District 11-6A honoree in 2020 after totaling 60 tackles, including 12 sacks ... recognized as a candidate for High School All-America accolades by Sports Illustrated prior to his senior season.
- Previously helped lead Cedar Hill to a 9-3 record as a junior and an appearance in the area round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs … garnered second team All-District 7-6A honors that season … found the quarterback 14 times for a sack as a junior.
- Consensus three-star prospect by the likes of ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … ranked as the No. 65 strong-side defensive end in the country by 247Sports … CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Air Force, Army, Colorado State, Illinois State, Kansas, Missouri State, North Texas, Toledo and UTSA.
PERSONAL
- Charles Esters III ... born to Charles Esters, Jr., and Latasha Esters ... has a sister, Christina. Â
- A management major at Texas Tech.
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