#16 Craig Steltz Season 2006
2007 LSU Team Captain
2007 Thorpe Award Finalist
2007 First-Team All-American (Walter Camp Foundation, AP, Football Writer’s, ESPN, CBSSports.com, Rivals.com)
2007 First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches, AP)
2007 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 17 vs. Ole Miss)
2007 Louisiana Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 30 vs. Mississippi State)
CAREER
Played in 44 games with 20 starts …. Ranks fifth in school history in passes defended with 34, which includes 11 interceptions and 23 PBUs … His 11 interceptions rank as the sixth-highest total in school history … For career, recorded 184 total tackles, seven tackles for losses and a pair of sacks despite playing just one season as a full-time starter … Named as one of three finalists for the coveted 2007 Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in college football … Joined defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey as a first team All-America for the Tigers in 2007 … Named of one five permanent team captains for the 2007 squad.
SENIOR SEASON (2007)
A veteran safety who served as a full-time starter for the first time in his career as a senior … Made the most of the opportunity, earning first-team All-America honors from nearly every publication, including the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Foundation … Started all 14 games as a senior, leading the Tigers with 101 tackles … Missed most of national championship game against Ohio State after suffering a stinger in the first half … Tried to play through the pain, but was never able to return to the field … Also led the Tigers in interceptions with six, including a school-record tying three in the season-opener against Mississippi State … The six interceptions rank as the seventh-highest single-season total in school history … Named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in LSU’s win over Ole Miss on Nov. 17 … In that game, had two interceptions and registered five tackles and a PBU in the 41-24 victory … Named the ESPN Player of the Game for his performance against Mississippi State … In addition to his three interceptions against the Bulldogs, he added three tackles, forced a fumble and broke up a pass in the 45-0 LSU win … Had career-highs of 16 tackles against Florida and Arkansas … Had 10 tackles and a PBU in the win over Auburn … Led the team with eight tackles in the SEC Championship game … Matched that tackle total and added a PBU versus Kentucky.
JUNIOR SEASON (2006)
Provided valuable experience in the Tigers’ secondary … Was a starter in sub-packages … Recorded four picks in 2006 … Was the first player in LSU history to intercept a pass in four straight games, picking off passes against Arizona, Auburn, Tulane and Mississippi State in successive weeks … Returned his interceptions for 111 yards, a total that included a career-long 76-yard return against Tulane in week four … Finished the year with 42 tackles (20 solo, 22 assisted), two TFL, a sack, five PBU and three quarterback hurries … Turned in his most impressive performance as a Tiger against Fresno State, recording a career-high 11 tackles, his first career sack and two PBU … Led the team with nine tackles against Alabama … Started at strong safety in wins over Alabama and Notre Dame in the Allstate Sugar Bowl … Had three tackles and broke up a pass in the Tigers’ 41-14 win over the Irish.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2005)
Started in LSU’s nickel and dime packages on defense … Played in 13 games with three starts … Started in place of an injured Jessie Daniels against Georgia in the SEC Championship game … Other starts came against Vanderbilt and Appalachian State … Led the Tigers with eight tackles, including six solo, against Georgia in the SEC title game … Finished the season with 40 tackles and one interception … Returned an interception 22 yards against North Texas … Had three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups for the year … In the season opener, returned a blocked punt 29 yards for a fourth quarter touchdown that helped the Tigers overcome a 17-7 deficit to beat Arizona State … Older brother Kevin served as LSU’s starting fullback.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2004)
Saw action in a reserve role in four different games … Played in wins over Mississippi State, Florida and Arkansas … Also saw action against Iowa in the Capital One Bowl … Recorded his only tackle of season against Arkansas.
HIGH SCHOOL
Considered the state’s top safety prospect in 2003 … Showed his versatility playing running back and returning kicks … Named to FSN South’s Countdown to Signing Day “All-South” first team, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s Top 20 Blue-Chip list … First-team 5A all-state in 2003 … Finished the year with 30 tackles and two sacks, despite suffering from two nagging injuries … Led a ferocious defensive unit that spearheaded the Raiders to an 8-2 district championship season and regional round playoff berth … Grabbed nine interceptions and made 120 tackles as a junior … Coached by Jay Roth.
PERSONAL
Full name is Craig Joseph Steltz … Born May 7, 1986, in Metairie … Nickname is Surfer Boy because of his long blonde hair … Parents are Keith and Linda Steltz … Older brother Kevin was the starting fullback at LSU for three years … Lists skydiving as one of the things he’ done in his life … Would like to be an Ultimate Fighter … Lists hunting, fishing and traveling as the things he likes to do for fun … Majoring in management … Became first football player in Rummel High School history to have his number retired, which occurred in April of 2008.
CAREER HIGHS
Total tackles: 16, twice – vs. Florida, 2007; vs. Arkansas, 2007
Tackles for loss: 1, six times
Sacks: 1, twice
Interceptions: 3 vs. Mississippi St., 2007
STELTZ’S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATS
Year
INT
PBU
QBH
FR
2004
0
0
0
0
2005
1-22
2
3
1-0
2006
4-111
14
1
0
2007
14-14
66
35
101
5-20
1-8
6-153
7
0
1-0
3
Totals
11-286
23
4
2-0