Tag: junior seau

2025 edge rusher Jewelous “Juju” Walls, a nephew of Junior Seau, offered by USC

This prospect has a family connection to a USC legend.

Jewelous “Juju” Walls is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound edge rusher from Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, California. He is part of the Class of 2025. Walls has been offered by USC.

Walls is a three-star prospect. Last season in high school, he recorded 99 tackles, including 25 tackles for loss and 8 sacks. He finished with 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

The California product has offers from UCLA, Washington, USC, Boise State, California, Arizona, UNLV, San Diego State and San Jose State.

A bonus for USC in recruiting Walls is that he is the nephew of the late Junior Seau, a former USC legend and NFL Hall of Famer.

“He inspired me in playing football and I just want to follow his footsteps and be even greater,” Walls told a website called Whoa Sports World.

USC has to develop depth on defense and improve its pass rush as it moves into the Big Ten Conference. This could be one small but real step in the right direction.

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55 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 55 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 55 jersey number

The New England Patriots are officially 55 days away from their 2023 season-opener at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has worn the No. 55 throughout franchise history.

Burgeoning star linebacker Josh Uche currently wears the number, which was also worn by the late, great Pro Football Hall of Famer Junior Seau. Uche did the number proud last season when he exploded for a career-high 11.5 sacks.

There have been a total of 21 Patriots players that have worn No. 55, including other long-tenured standouts like Willie McGinest and Don Blackmon.

Here’s every Patriots player that has worn the number (via Pro Football Reference):

Patriots rookie LB Marte Mapu got this advice from legendary NFL uncle

Patriots rookie Marte Mapu has family ties to an NFL legend.

New England Patriots rookie linebacker Marte Mapu has football lineage, and his uncle is a former Patriot.

Mapu was drafted by New England with the 76th overall selection, and his uncle, Junior Seau, was there for his nephew’s early development.

Seau played in the NFL from 1990-2009. He played for New England from 2006-2009 and was able to record 178 tackles in 38 games with the Patriots. He made 16 starts in total. Now, his nephew is carrying his advice, as he looks to embark on a Patriots career of his own.

Mapu tallied 76 tackles in his final season with Sacramento State, and he looks to be an important piece of the Patriots’ linebacker group. Mapu’s father, Av’e Mapu, told CBS Sacramento the advice Seau gave his son.

“I always remember when he asked the question and he goes to him ‘what can I do to get better?’,” said Av’e. “Junior just told him, ‘hey, I know you’re too young right now to know but for me, it’s film study.'”

How Marte Mapu fits into the equation at the linebacker position remains a question. That being said, there is no doubt he got good advice to take to the next level.

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Chargers’ all-time Mount Rushmore: 4 best players in franchise history

Here are the four best players in Chargers franchise history.

Even though the Chargers don’t have any Lombardi Trophies in their trophy case, they have had a handful of legendary players come through the doors to help the team with successful seasons over the past 64 years.

That said, here are the four best players in the franchise’s history.

Watch: Relive Chargers EDGE Joey Bosa’s career game vs. Bills

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa set personal and team records on Sunday.

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa was the best player that stepped foot on Bills Stadium on Sunday.

Bosa was a man on a mission, posting arguably his most dominant performance since entering the NFL back in 2016.

The 25-year old had eight tackles, three sacks, five quarterback hits and a fumble recovery.

Even though Los Angeles wasn’t able to pick up the win, he still helped himself by setting a few personal and team records along the way.

Bosa passed Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau for the fifth-most sacks in team history with 47.5. His three sacks were a career-high. He also became the third player to record three sacks, five QB hits, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in a single game.

To relive his phenomenal outing, check out the video below:

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=eiN7LoPB7d-1053849-7498&autoplay=on&V=2&format=json

See why USC deemed ‘Linebacker University’ by Bleacher Report

The USC Trojans have the distinct honor of being the best school for linebackers, according to Bleacher Report.

Bleacher Report is continuing ‘Position U Week’, their series labeling which schools have produced the most talent in the NFL at each position.

And while USC will do favorably at the quarterback position, they officially won the title of Linebacker University, edging out the Miami Hurricanes who boast a pair of Hall of Famers in Ray Lewis and Ted Hendricks.

USC’s win was more quantity based, although they get a huge boost from 12-time Pro Bowler Junior Seau, as well as Clay Matthews Jr. and Clay Matthews III – who went to a combined 10 Pro Bowls among them.

Other big name linebackers include Jack Del Rio, who is a candidate for the College Football Hall of Fame, Brian Cushing, and Lofa Tatupu.

All-in-all, USC has 12 linebackers who have been to at least one Pro Bowl, giving them far more depth than any other school – and more than enough to win the coveted title of ‘Linebacker University’.

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6 Chargers among ‘best player to wear each jersey number’

The Chargers had a few players represent them in CBS Sports’ list.

The Chargers have had some of the all-time greats walk through the doors since the franchise was founded in 1960.

CBS Sports listed the best players to wear each jersey number in the NFL. The Bolts had six players in total make the list.

Here’s who made the list along with a blurb for each player:

Drew Brees (9)

His career began in San Diego but ended when the franchise selected Philip Rivers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Brees’ potential was validated in New Orleans. Although he has not been named league MVP, the former Boilermaker has appeared in 13-Pro Bowls. He was named Super Bowl MVP in a championship effort.

Dan Fouts (14)

Fouts was the pilot of the Air Coryell offense. He took calculated risks downfield and was methodical in the team’s matriculation down the field. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee threw for 43,040 yards and 254 touchdowns. The former third-round selection was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro.

Philip Rivers (17)

Rivers was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft. Before venturing off to Indianapolis this season, he starred for the Chargers. The N.C. State product has gone to eight Pro Bowls. He has thrown for 59,271 yards and 397 touchdowns in his career. His career passing total should exceed 60,000 yards in 2020.

Johnny Unitas (19)

Unitas was initially drafted by Pittsburgh but was released before ever playing a down. He found a soft landing in Baltimore, where his Hall of Fame career took flight. He won one Super Bowl and three NFL championships during his 18 playing seasons. He was named to ten Pro Bowls and was an eight-time All-Pro. Over the course of his career, he threw for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns.

Junior Seau (55)

The list has essentially served as a reminder that the Trojans used to be a powerhouse. Seau has 12 Pro Bowls and a Defensive Player of the Year award to his name. He was named a ten-time All-Pro. The California native recorded 1,849 tackles, 56.5 sacks, 18 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Larry Little (66)

Little entered the league as an undrafted free agent. It did not slow down an impressive playing career, however. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion. The Georgia native appeared in five Pro Bowls and was named a seven-time All-Pro. Little was vital to Miami’s offensive success during their perfect season in 1972.

Ex-Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson shares top five teammates

Who were Chargers great LaDainian Tomlinson’s favorite teammates from back in the day?

Former Chargers running LaDainian Tomlinson will forever be one of the greatest players to suit up in the blue and gold.

Tomlinson enjoyed a successful career with the Bolts, all while playing with some other greats along the way.

Now a member of NFL Network, Tomlinson recently outlined his top five favorite teammates during his nine-year stint with the Chargers.

He listed Rodney Harrison, Lorenzo Neal, Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Drew Brees and Junior Seau among his top teammates.

All players mentioned were among Chargers Wire’s 100 best players in team history.

To read more of Tomlinson’s article, where he explains some of his favorite moments, click here.

Ex-Chargers TE Kellen Winslow named to NFL 100 All-Time Team

A former Charger great joins a handful of the best players to play in the National Football League.

Former Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow has been named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team.

Winslow joins linebacker Junior Seau on the 100-player roster, which is being revealed position by position as the series within the celebration of the league’s 100th season.

Regarded as the one that revolutionized the position, Winslow set the record for most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end with 1,290 yards in 1980. In the same year, Winslow led the NFL in receptions with 89.

Winslow’s performance against the Miami Dolphins in the 1981 playoffs is his most memorable moment in his career.

Winslow finished the game with an NFL playoff-record 13 receptions for 166 yards. But it’s his blocked field goal at the end of regulation to force the game into overtime that may have been his biggest play of the game.

After nine seasons in the league, Winslow retired in 1987 due to multiple knee injuries that hampered him throughout his stint with the Chargers.

He finished his career with 541 receptions, 6,741 yards, 45 touchdowns, five Pro Bowl selections, along with being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

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