While Northern Arizona has seen many different players rotate in and out of its defensive line over the past three years, the one constant has been senior
Aaron Andrews.
A junior college transfer to the Lumberjacks after spending his freshman season near his hometown of Livermore in Northern California, Andrews arrived in Flagstaff along with seven other new defensive linemen as part of the 2017 recruiting class.
Andrews finished up his lone season at Chabot College with 13.5 sacks, 20 total tackles and 69 tackles for loss in 10 games. The performance caught the eye of former Northern Arizona defensive line coach Travis Baker, who offered Andrews his first Division I scholarship just after the junior college season ended.
"Out of high school, I was the guy that didn't pass the eye test when it came to Division I football," Andrews said. "So I opted to go the junior college route. I had a couple preferred walk ons to go play, but I wanted to earn that scholarship. Coach Baker called me after the season and said I need you to get here mid-year."
Andrews recalled being offered on Dec. 22 and moved to Flagstaff on Jan. 12, a quick change after playing his first collegiate season about a half hour away from his high school.
ON THE FIELD IMMEDIATELY
Andrews immediately ended up on the field for the Lumberjacks as a sophomore, finishing with 25 tackles, 5.5 for loss in 10 games.
"Everytime I go into something, I expect I am going to be the best guy to do it, I am going to outwork everyone," Andrews said. "When I came in, I was expecting to play. We played that kind of rotation element where we had nine or 10 guys who were all playing. I was just excited to be on the field that year."
And since his first year, Andrews has rarely left the field. While injuries have taken many others out of the rotation, Andrews played all 10 games for the Lumberjacks as a junior in 2018 and has started all 11 as a senior this year.
Earning All-Big Sky Conference honorable mention last season, Andrews totaled 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. Playing within Northern Arizona's new defensive alignment this year, Andrews has matched his total tackles from last year to go along with four tackles for loss and a half sack.
Now playing under first-year defensive line coach
Everrette Thompson, Andrews has offered a steady presence among a constant rotation of players.
"The maturity of Aaron and his football intelligence is irreplaceable. It just gives me the flexibility to plug in younger guys where I can, because we are limited up front as far as depth," Thompson said. "His flexibility to play all across the board helps me get those guys in the best position possible to make plays."
With 11 starts this year, Andrews is the only Lumberjack to start more than five games this year. Eight different players have started at Northern Arizona's three defensive line positions, as the Lumberjacks have rotated multiple players at their two end spots around Andrews. Of the seven others, four others arrived at Northern Arizona this past offseason or played just a single game in 2018.
VALUED VERSATILITY
In the center of the Lumberjacks' 3-4 defense, Andrews has started at nose guard for 10 of the 11 games while occasionally rotating out to end. Listed at 6-foot-2, 255 pounds on Northern Arizona's roster, Andrews' position coach admits the senior is undersized compared to other players at the position.
"He's above and beyond his measurables," Thompson said. "You look at him, comparable to me his coach, I am 6-foot-5 and about 300 pounds. Double A
Aaron Andrews is what, 5-foot-11, 6-foot and about 240 or 250."
In Northern Arizona's 4-3 defense from his previous two seasons with the Lumberjacks, Andrews played as one of the two defensive tackles while also seeing some time at end. Andrews' ability to play multiple different techniques on the defensive line despite his size has proven to be invaluable.
"At the end of the day he is a football player. Football players come in all shapes and forms, I have played this game long enough to see what it looks like and he's an example of that," Thompson said. "He can play from a nose guard shade (over the center) to a three-tequinique (outside shoulder of a guard), four-I (inside shoulder of a tackle), over a tight end as a six-technique and a five (outside shoulder of a tackle). So you see him all around all over the place making plays."
The versatility, to Andrews, has simply meant he has been able to find multiple ways to help his team make plays and put the best group of players on the field, even if that meant facing double-teams inside on early downs against the run.
"Just being able to play different spots, my weight has fluctuated. When I got here, I was 220 and now at the heaviest I played I was 265, and now I am 245. Just being able to play all these different spots, it's just giving my team the best chance to win. Being one of the 11 best defenders out there on the field is really my goal at all times."
BETTING ON HIMSELF
"He is a tough kid and a blue collar worker," Thompson said. "I am very appreciative of how much he has sacrificed for this program and for me this year. This is my first year as a defensive line coach, and he has made it so much easier for me and has been an example for my room."
Andrews reached this point in his football career after betting on himself following his career at Granada High School. Electing to play for Chabot, Andrews went up against some of the top junior colleges in California, giving him the chance to show his skills against top competition.
"JUCOs like Laney College, College of San Mateo, City College of San Francisco, we play these big time schools and I was able to produce well at that level," Andrews said. "So I thought I was able to play at this level, and I think I have shown that.
"The junior college route is a different route and I don't recommend it to everyone. It's a tough, tough business," Andrews added. "The biggest thing is you have got to go to a school that is the right fit for you, that fits your needs and what you are trying to accomplish. I think that's what I did."
