42  Nick Sandford Class: Senior Hometown: Orange, Calif. High School: El Modena High Height / Weight: 6-2 / 210 Position: Defensive Back Birthdate: 09/15/1986 Experience: 3L

A special teams standout, who earned a starting spot at safety as a junior ... Has two career double-figure tackles games ... Good student who was tabbed as one of the team's President's Awards for Highest Standards of Academic and Athletic Excellence in 2006 ... Is an SDSU scholar-athlete ... Finished atop the two-deep at the Aztec position after 2009 spring drills.

2008: Played in nine games, starting seven times, before missing the last three due to injury ... Saw extensive playing time in the defensive backfield against Cal Poly, while also logging minutes on special teams ... Two tackles at Notre Dame ... First career start at free safety at San Jose State, more than tripling his previous career game-high in tackles with 10 ... Started at strong safety against Idaho, making a pair of solo stops ... Seven tackles as a starter at TCU and five vs. Air Force ... Made seven stops at UNM ... Just one tackle as a starter against Colorado State ... Bounced back with a 10-tackle effort at Wyoming ... Also had his first career tackles behind the line of scrimmage with two for a loss of seven against the Cowboys ... Did not play in the final three outings.

2007: Limited to just six games due to injury ... Made one special teams tackle on punt coverage vs. Washington State ... DNP vs. ASU due to an injury ... Returned to make three tackles against Portland State, tying his career high ... One solo effort vs. Cincinnati.

2006: Played in all 12 contests ... Earned the team's Iron Man Special Teams Player of the Year award along with Freddy Dunkle ... Made 12 tackles, including a career-best three at Wisconsin ... Tallied a pair of stops versus Utah and TCU.

2005: Redshirted as a true freshman.

High School: Played football and ran track at El Modena ... Played safety, linebacker and wide receiver for the Vanguards ... Unanimous first-team all-league as a senior, despite missing three games with a broken leg ... Team's second-leading tackler and averaged over 17 yards per catch at receiver with 23 catches for 394 yards and six touchdowns his senior campaign ... El Modena's offensive MVP, "Hit Man" award-winner, while serving as captain ... Nominee for the Brea Lions Club 46th Orange County Prep All-Star Football Game ... Scholar-athlete for football ... Ran the 100 and 200 meters in track, going undefeated in league competition in 2005 ... School record-holder in both events ... Three-time league champ and league sprinter of the year.

Personal: Born Sept. 15, 1986 ... Son of Paul and Nancy Sandford ... Is a business major.

SANDFORD'S CAREER STATISTICS

Career Highs: Tackles: 10 at Wyoming (11/1/08), at SJSU (9/13/08).