#99 Gio Paez Season 2025
Spent 1 season at LSU after transferring as a graduate student from Wisconsin … Started all 13 games for the Tigers in 2024, serving as LSU’s run-stopper on the defensive line … Appeared in 33 games with 6 starts from 2020-23 at Wisconsin … Tallied 36 tackles and 1.5 tackles during his time at Wisconsin … Graduated from Wisconsin in May of 2024 … Prepped at William A. Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina.
GRADUATE SEASON (2024 at LSU)
Started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the Tigers in 2024 … Recorded 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack … In LSU debut, had 4 tackles and tackle for a 1-yard loss in season-opener against USC … Credited with half-sacks in back-to-back games against South Alabama and Ole Miss … Had 3 tackles in overtime win over Ole Miss … Closed season with 2 tackles in Texas Bowl win over Baylor.
SENIOR SEASON (2023 at Wisconsin)
Appeared in 13 games, starting 6 times on the defensive line … Starts came against Washington State, Georgia Southern, Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska … Recorded 22 tackles and a half-tackle for loss … Played against LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl, tallying 2 tackles … Season-high 4 tackles vs. Iowa … 3 tackles against Buffalo, Georgia Southern, and Northwestern … Tackle for loss came against Nebraska.
JUNIOR SEASON (2022 at Wisconsin)
Appeared in 10 games … Had 11 total tackles and a tackle for loss … Tallied 2 tackles and a tackle for a 1-yard loss in season-opener vs. Illinois State … Recorded 2 tackles in games against Illinois, Northwestern, and Purdue.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2021 at Wisconsin)
Appeared in 9 games … Recorded 2 total tackles and a quarterback hurry … Had tackles in wins over Illinois and Purdue.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2020 at Wisconsin)
Played in 1 game, making his Wisconsin debut vs. Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30.
TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON (2019 at Wisconsin)
Redshirted as a true freshman in 2019.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated with 3-stars by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … First-Team All-I-Meck Conference as senior … Named team’s defensive line MVP as a junior … Two-year team captain … Also lettered in basketball, playing varsity as a freshman at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles … Coached by Matt Jenkins.
Gio Paez’s CAREER HIGHS (at Wisconsin)
Tackles: 4, 2x (Last: vs. USC, 2024; First: vs. Iowa, 2023 at Wisconsin)
Tackles for loss: 1.0, 3x (Last: vs. Ole Miss, 2024; First: vs. Illinois State, 2022 at Wisconsin)
Sacks: 0.5, 2x (Last: vs. Ole Miss, 2024; First: vs. South Alabama, 2024)