Editors Note: Throughout the coming months, THN will be profiling players that signed over the off-season. These profiles will include former player’s that have re-signed, free agents, players acquired via trade, and drafted and undrafted rookies. Be sure to keep checking for new profiles, so that you can get to know the new Redskins.
Next in line: Adam Archuleta
College: Arizona State University
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 230
Born: 1977-11-27
Joined League: 2001
Drafted: 2001 – 1st Round – St. Louis Rams
How Acquired: – UFA 2006
Number: 40
Known for the unique – and strict – training regimen that he participates in every offseason, Adam Archuleta brings a valuable combination of speed, strength, and football smarts to an already loaded Redskins defense. With third-year playmaker Sean Taylor on the other side, Gregg Williams’ options will be endless, especially in his vaunted blitz packages.
In 2005, Archuleta started in 14 games and totaled 93 tackles, 3.5 sacks (two of which came against New Orleans in Week 7), 2 passes defended, and 1 interception that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee in Week 3.
2004 marked Archuleta’s third straight season of 100 tackles or more, logging 123 total on the year. He appeared in all 16 regular season games, starting 14 and both playoff games at Seattle and at Atlanta. He also recorded two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovered, three passes defended, five tackles for loss, and nine tackles on special teams.
Archuleta recorded 101 tackles, five sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, nine quarterback pressures, and eight passes defended in 2003. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month of November.
2002 was Archuleta’s breakout season, recording a team leading 149 tackles, three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, four passed defended, one fumble recovery, and eight special teams tackles. Started 15 games as a strong safety and one as a linebacker.
Archuleta helped lead the Rams to NFC Championship and Super Bowl XXXVI appearances against the New England Patriots while finishing sixth on the team with 81 tackles as a rookie in 2001. He started 12 of 13 games at strong safety and started all postseason games and led the Rams defensive secondary with seven tackles in Super Bowl XXXVI. Pro Football Weekly and The Football News named Archuleta to their 2001 All-Rookie Teams.
A former walk-on at Arizona State, Archuleta played four years, starting the last three as a linebacker and recorded 330 tackles, 14 sacks, five forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries. He ranks fourth on the Sun Devils’ all-time list with 54 stops behind the line of scrimmage and fifth on the all-time list of career solo tackles with 202.
Archuleta was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference first-team as a senior. He led the team with 127 tackles. As a junior, he was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference first-team and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
As a student at Arizona State University, Archuleta majored in interdisciplinary studies/secondary education.
At Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona, he earned first-team all-central region, was named all-state honorable mention and also named all-valley as a defensive back and running back. He also earned Most Valuable Player honors for the 1996 All-Hispanic team.
He is the son of Albert and Vange Archuleta.
-Jake Russell
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Jake Russell