2007 MEDIA GUIDE - Seahawks Online Media Packet

TATUPU 148Linebacker 6-0 242USC3rd NFL Season3rd Seahawks Season2nd Round 20052006 Games/Starts: 16/16Career Games/Starts: 32/32November 15, 1982Wrentham, Massachusetts2006: Started all 16 games, becoming the firstSeahawks middle linebacker to start back-tobackseasons at the position in nearly a decade.Named to his second Pro Bowl in as manyyears while leading the team with career-high123 tackles (93 solo). Became first player torecord back-to-back 100-tackle seasons sinceAnthony Simmons (2000-01). Also recorded 1.5sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumblerecovery. Led the team in tackles seven separatetimes. Registered 12 tackles (six solo) andrecovered his second-career fumble versusArizona (9/17). Tallied 11 tackles (nine solo) atChicago (10/1). Had six solo tackles and onlyinterception of the season the following weekat St. Louis (10/15). Had nine solo stops and onepassed defensed at Kansas City (10/29).Recorded six tackles (five solo) and half a sackversus Oakland on Monday Night Football(11/6). Registered 10 tackles vs. St. Louis (11/12)and at San Francisco (11/19) where he alsoforced his first-career fumble. Registered fifthdouble-digit tackle game this season tying aseason high with 12 tackles (nine solo) and asack versus San Diego (12/24). Led the team intackles for seventh time this season registeringseven tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble inthe season finale at Tampa Bay (12/31). Startedboth postseason games and tallied 13 tackles,including eight (six solo) in the NFC DivisionalGame at Chicago (1/14/06).PRO: His 228 career tackles rank second in clubhistory for most tackles in first two NFL seasons(Terry Beeson, 287). Has recorded 10 tackles ormore eight times. First Seattle player to recordback-to-back 100-tackle seasons since Simmons(2000-01). Has led team in tackles 12 times inNFL Career (32 games). Selected with the 13thpick in the second round (45th overall) of the2005 NFL Draft. Highest choice used on a linebackersince Simmons was taken 15th overallin the 1998 draft. Only second player chosenfrom USC in club history (Kris Richard 2002).2005: Was selected to the Pro Bowl after stellarrookie campaign. Led the team in total tackles(105) becoming second rookie in club historyto lead team in tackles and first since 1977when Terry Beeson recorded 134. Led team intackles five times. Also registered 4.0 sacks, onefumble recovery, and three interceptions,including one for a touchdown. The 38-yardinterception returned for a touchdown and ninetackles contributed to a 42-0 shutout inPhiladephia (12/5) and a share of Monday NightFootball Horse Trailer Award. Registered firstcareersack and had six tackles in first homegame versus Atlanta (9/18). Racked up ninetackles and first-career interception at St. Louis(10/9). Set a career-high 13 tackles versus NewYork Giants (11/27). Recovered first-career fumbleversus San Francisco (12/11). Started allthree postseason games and returned firstcareerpostseason interception 21 yards in NFCChampionship against Carolina (1/22/06).Racked up 22 postseason tackles, includingnine in Super Bowl XL (2/5/06).HONORS: 2005, NFC Pro Bowl, NFWA/NFWAAll-Rookie Team, NFL Defensive Rookie of theMonth for December/January, USA Today’s All-Joe Team. 2006, NFC Pro BowlCOLLEGE: Transferred to USC after spendingfreshman year at the University of Maine.Started 25 games in two years for the Trojansas they won back-to-back national championships.Finished USC career with 202 tackles,nine sacks, seven interceptions, three fumblerecoveries, three forced fumbles, 18 passdeflections, and one touchdown. Garnerednumberous honors as a RS junior. First-teamAll American selection by Sports Illustratedand All-Pac-10 Conference first-team pick.Recipient of USC’s co-Most Inspirational PlayerAward, Co-Lifter Award, and Bob ChandlerAward. Led team in tackles for second straightyear with 104. Honored with the John McKayAward, given annually to the underclassmanwith the most competitive spirt as a RS sophomore.PERSONAL: Attended King Phillip Regional