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A second-team All-ACC selection at the defensive tackle spot … Entered the season as the only returning starter along the defensive line … Started all 13 games this year, recording 35 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and half a sack … A senior leader on a young defense.

2010: Had four tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in the season opener … Was in on a tackle for loss and four total tackles against JMU … Had three tackles and two hurries in the ECU game … Picked up a tackle for loss against BC … Shared a TFL on the way to three tackles and two hurries at NC State … Had three hurries against Central Michigan … Collected nine tackles in the Georgia Tech game … Had six tackles and shared a sack at UNC … Had a hurry and a pair of tackles against Virginia … Stopped a big fourth-down try by Florida State during the fourth quarter of the ACC title game.

2009: Started eight games … Had over 300 plays under his belt, but was not able to play full speed until the bowl game … Had just 12 tackles but managed to hurry the quarterback 10 times … Played 62 snaps on defense and 10 on special teams in the opener against Alabama … Was in on two tackles and posted five quarterback hurries … Had a tackle and hurry in the Marshall game … Added another hurry against Nebraska … Suffered an injured ankle and saw only brief play on special teams against Miami and Duke … Returned to his starting tackle role against Boston College and played 24 snaps … Had a tackle and 14 plays at Georgia Tech before reinjuring his ankle … Played 55 downs against UNC with a pair of tackles and a hurry … Came off the bench for 26 plays at ECU … Started at Maryland and had three tackles and a hurry in 35 plays … Was in for 16 plays against NC State with a tackle and a hurry … Finished up with 26 plays at Virginia … Posted his first career sack in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Tennessee … Had three tackles, two for losses … Also forced and recovered a fumble … His 4.84 time in the 40 was best among the defensive tackles during off-season testing … His 425-pound bench press was third-best on the team … Was one of two players to earn 100% Effort Awards for all six of the team’s pre-spring 6 a.m. workouts … Won the President’s Award for outstanding leadership by a defensive player during off-season workouts and spring practice … Also named the defensive MVP of the spring.

2008: A starter on the extra point/field goal block team, as well as at tackle … Compiled 26 tackles, four for losses, and hurried the quarterback 11 times during the season … Started and played a combined total of 74 snaps during the first two games … Blocked an extra point that was returned for a defensive PAT against East Carolina … Blocked a field goal in the win over Furman … Made it three games in a row with the block of a PAT versus Georgia Tech … Added two tackles, one for a loss, and two hurries in that game … Caused and recovered a fumble, broke up a pass, hurried the QB twice and added five tackles in win at UNC … Hurried the quarterback twice and broke up a pass in the win at Nebraska … Recovered a fumble and posted a hurry against Boston College … Had a tackle for loss and a hurry in the FSU game … Shared a tackle behind the line and picked up a hurry during the Maryland game … Posted three tackles and shared a sack in the Miami game … Was in on 50 plays against Duke with a pair of tackles and a QB hurry … Played 46 downs against Virginia with three tackles … Picked up four tackles while playing 60 snaps in the ACC title game against BC … Added another tackle in the Orange Bowl … His 35 1/2-inch vertical jump during off-season testing was the best among the defensive tackles … Was moved to defensive end prior to spring practice … Had a sack and four total tackles for loss in the first full scrimmage … Blocked a field goal in another scrimmage and posted a pair of tackles during the Maroon-White game.

2007: Saw his first collegiate action with 12 defensive plays and two more on special teams … Was in on a pair of tackles … Was credited with two tackles, including one behind the line at LSU … Played 17 downs on defense against Ohio and had three tackles … Worked 32 plays against William & Mary, contributing two quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss … Had a hurry in the UNC game … Picked up two more hurries at Clemson on 26 plays … Contributed a tackle and a QB hurry at Georgia Tech … Hurried the quarterback twice while playing 22 downs against Miami … Was in on a tackle and had a pair of hurries during the ACC Championship game against BC … Finished the season with 11 total tackles and 11 quarterback hurries … Bench pressed 400 pounds during off-season testing and recorded a 360-pound push jerk … Posted a sack in each of the team’s two major spring scrimmages … Won the Frank O. Moseley Award for the defensive player who exhibited the most hustle during the off-season and spring workouts.

2006: Was redshirted while working at defensive tackle … Posted a 390-pound bench press and 360-pound push jerk during spring max testing … Led the tackles with a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump … Got most of his work at end during spring practice … Won the Paul Torgersen Award as the top defensive newcomer in the spring.

High School: An All-America selection by PrepStar and SuperPrep … Played defensive end and offensive guard as a four-year starter for Coach Bill Bowles at Meadowbrook … Ranked the No. 7 player in the state by The Roanoke Times in its postseason list … Ranked the No. 7 player in Virginia by SuperPrep … Listed as the No. 11 player in his state by rivals.com in its final state ranking … Had 65 tackles as a senior, including nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss, in earning district defensive player of the year honors … Also had two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and five blocked kicks … Named first-team all-state by The Associated Press as a defensive lineman … Named first-team all-state by the VHSCA as both an offensive guard and defensive end … Earned first-team All-Metro honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch … Named first-team All-Central District as both an offensive guard and a defensive end … Set a school record by blocking 12 kicks during his career … Scored defensive touchdowns this past season on an interception and a fumble return … As a junior, was the Central District, region and All-Metro defensive player of the year in leading his team to a State AAA, Group 5 state title … Rated the No. 21 strongside defensive end in the country by rivals.com … Listed as the No. 32 defensive lineman in the country by SuperPrep … Rated the No. 34 defensive tackle in the country by scout.com … Rated the No. 90 player in the country and the No. 22 defensive end in the country by collegefootballnews.com … Ranked the No. 54 postseason prospect on the scout.com East Region Hot 100 … Started every game on varsity during his four-year career.

Personal: John Walter Graves … Born 6/25/87 in Richmond, VA … Son of John and Joyce Graves … Graduated with a degree in psychology and sociology in December ... Working on a third undergraduate major.