Stephen Tulloch life and biography

PRO:
Linebacker Stephen Tulloch is an aggressive, downhill defender who possesses quick feet and fluid lateral movement. The 2006 fourth-round draft choice has proved to be durable, participating in every game during his first four NFL seasons. A core special teams performer in his first two years, the undersized middle linebacker moved into the starting lineup four weeks into the 2008 season and continues in that role. He led the squad in tackles for the first time in 2009, collecting 132 stops.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• In 2009, his first full season as the team’s starting middle linebacker, Tulloch led the team in tackles for the first time, setting a career high with 132 total stops.
• In 2008, he moved into the starting lineup during the season and finished second on the squad with 98 tackles.
• At Philadelphia on Nov. 19, 2007, he notched his first career interception by picking off a Donovan McNabb pass in the end zone.
• His 36 special teams stops from 2006-08 ranked second on the team behind Donnie Nickey (40).

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Born and raised in Miami, Fla., Tulloch has Jamaican heritage. His parents arrived in the United States as young adults from Jamaica before he was born. He is appreciative of his Jamaican ancestry and frequently enjoys his mother’s native cuisine.
• Tulloch credits his mother, Mercedes, as his inspiration and reason for his success. As a single mom, she worked as a nurse to provide for him and two siblings.
• He enjoys spending time with his niece, Aeriel, and nephew, Jovon.
• Tulloch decided to leave N.C. State for the NFL with a year of college eligibility remaining after his MVP performance in the Wolfpack’s Meineke Car Care Bowl shutout victory over South Florida in 2005.
• At N.C. State, Tulloch played on a defense that produced three defensive linemen selected in the first-round of the 2006 NFL Draft - Mario Williams (1st overall), Manny Lawson (22nd overall) and John McCargo (26th overall).
• After completing his professional football career, Tulloch desires to develop a youth center to provide a healthy environment for children to grow, stay out of trouble and participate in extracurricular activities. He already has launched The Stephen Tulloch Foundation to benefit underprivileged children in Miami and has organized a bowling event and football camp through the foundation.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Miami, Fla., native was selected with the team’s second pick of the fourth round (116th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft after the Titans traded their initial second-round selection (39th) to Philadelphia for their second and fourth round picks (45th and 116th).

COLLEGE:

• During three-year career at N.C. State, played in 35 games with 18 starts and recorded 290 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble, three fumbles recovered, four passes defensed and 20 quarterback pressures. His 40 career tackles for loss rank fourth in N.C. State history.
• As junior, named first-team All-ACC, honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated, MVP of 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl and N.C. State’s Most Valuable Linebacker while starting all 12 games. Posted career-highs in tackles (150, team-high), sacks (6), tackles for loss (21), forced fumbles (1), fumbles recovered (2) and quarterback pressures (9).
• As sophomore, played all 11 games and recorded six starts. Tied for third on team with 75 tackles, tied for second on team with 14 tackles for loss (10th in school history), one sack, one fumble recovery and five quarterback pressures.
• As freshman, played all 12 games, totaling 65 tackles, five tackles for loss, two passes defensed and six quarterback pressures.
• Majored in sports management.

PERSONAL:

• Single, splits time between Nashville and Miami, Fla.
• At Miami Killian (Fla.) High School, named Dade County Defensive Player of Year and selected to Florida Super 75, while posting 132 tackles, 12 sacks, two interceptions, two caused fumbles and three forced fumbles as senior.
• At N.C. State, earned Wolfpack ACC Award for Community Service.
• Older brother David Tulloch played defensive tackle at Florida State (1995-1998).
• Has talked with school children in Miami and in Hendersonville, Tenn.
• Helped plant trees at Chattanooga area Boys & Girls Club in 2007 as participant in Titans Caravan and participated in Caravan again in 2009.
• Hosts annual free football camp in July for Miami area youth.
• List of favorites: (movie) “Green Mile”; (actor) Denzel Washington; (sports hero) Mike Singletary; (food) Jamaican; (car) Mercedes S550; and (vacation getaway) Jamaica.
• Born Stephen Michael Tulloch on Jan. 1, 1985 in Miami, Fla.

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