High School: Played safety, cornerback and running back at Southeast Raleigh High School for coach Chad O’Shea...started his final 35 high school games and led squad to 20-15 record during that span...led 2003 team to state semifinals and a second place spot in the Eastern Regionals as a sophomore...two-time Triangle Athletic Conference selection at defensive back...team Most Valuable Player as a senior...posted 207 career tackles (150 solo) and set a school record with 13 interceptions...as a senior, rushed 66 times for 270 yards and four touchdowns (4.3 avg.) and averaged 15 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kickoff return...three-sport standout who also has starred in basketball and track and field...competed in sprints, relays, and the long jump in track and field and led squad to the state track and field title as junior in the spring of 2005.
At Delaware: Fourth-year member of the squad as a free safety...spearheads Delaware defense that ranks among the top units in the Colonial Athletic Association and a defensive secondary that ranks among the best in the nation...one of the nation's premier defensive players and safeties...has earned pre-season The Sports Network second team All-American honors, has been named to the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player in the nation) Watch List, and is a pre-season first team All-CAA selection...three-year letterwinner who has appeared in 31 career games with 25 starts...active team leader with 163 total tackles, 90 solo tackles, nine pass breakups, and six interceptions...needs 37 tackles to become the 39th player in UD history to record 200 stops...intelligent player...has a quiet demeaner, but is one of the team's most punishing hitters...has a good nose for the football and can make things happen once he gets it...posted eight tackles and intercepted two passes in 2009 spring game.
2008 Season: Enjoyed a breakout season as a junior for the Blue Hens and established himself as one of the premier safeties not only in the Colonial Athletic Association but in the FCS...keyed a defense that ranked No. 2 in the CAA in scoring defense (20.8 ppg) and No. 1 in red-zone defense (.722)...earned a slew of post-season honors...earned a spot on the Associated Press All-American second team and was also named to the College Sporting News Fabulous 50 honorable mention team...first team All-CAA selection...was named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week three times (vs. Massachusetts, Richmond, and Villanova)...started all 12 games at free safety and led the team with 78 total tackles, 43 solo stops, five interceptions, and two fumble recoveries...also had two sacks for 15 yards and five pass breakups...ranked No. 4 in the CAA and No. 26 in the NCAA in interceptions (.46 per game), No. 10 in the CAA in passes defended (10 for .83 per game), and No. 21 in the CAA in tackles (6.5 per game)...first UD safety to earn All-American honors since Kenny Bailey in 1995...posted five or more tackles eight times during the season with a career-high 14 in the season finale vs. Villanova...also had nine stop each vs. Massachusetts, William & Mary, and James Madison, and eight against Maryland and Richmond...recorded sacks vs. Towson and Villanova...recovered a fumble and returned it 33 yards against Massachusetts and also recovered a fumble and rambled 45 yards for a touchdown vs. Richmond...intercepted five passes, including two in win over Hofstra...returned interceptions 38 yards vs. Massachusetts, 22 yards against West Chester, and seven yards vs. Richmond...team went 4-8.
2007 Season: Took over starting spot in Blue Hen defensive secondary as a redshirt freshman and enjoyed a solid season...played in 14 games with 11 starts for team that went 11-4 and advanced to the FCS national title game...missed the season opener with an injury but returned vs. West Chester and started the final 11 contests...ranked No. 4 on the team in tackles with 75 stops, including 44 tackles...also had four pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble...returned kickoff 10 yards vs. Towson...named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week in wins over James Madison and Delaware State...recorded five or more tackles eight times during the season...recorded a career-high 12 stops and forced a fumble vs. James Madison...also had 11 tackles vs. Delaware State, nine stops vs. Navy, eight stops vs. Appalachian State, and seven tackles each vs. Richmond and Southern Illinois...picked off first career interception vs. Monmouth...collected six tackles (three solo) in spring game.
2006 Season: One of six true freshmen to see action for the Blue Hens on the defensive side of the ball...was expected to sit out as a redshirt but was forced into action in Week 5 vs. Northeastern due to a rash of injuries...finished season playing in five games and started contests vs. Hofstra and James Madison....missed final two games of the season with injuries...led all true freshmen with 10 tackles, including three solo stops...had season-high three tackles each vs. Northeastern, Hofstra, and James Madison...team went 5-6.
Personal: Charles Frederick Graves II...born August 18, 1988...son of Charles F. Graves and Shelia Winston-Graves...hotel, restaurant, and institutional management major at Delaware....avid video game player...has worked on grounds crew at Delaware Park, with NKS Distribution, and as an intern with the Courtyard by Marriott at the University of Delaware hotel during the summers.
CAREER DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
| YEAR |
G/S |
Tackles (Solo) |
TFL |
Sacks |
PD |
Int. |
| 2008 |
12/12 |
78 (43) |
2-15 |
2-15 |
5 |
5 |
| 2007 |
14/11 |
75 (44) |
0.5-1 |
0-0 |
4 |
1 |
| 2006 |
5/2 |
10 (3) |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
| Totals |
31/25 |
163 (90) |
2.5-16 |
2-15 |
9 |
6 |
Career-High Tackles: 14 vs. Villanova, 2008
Career-High Interceptions: 2 vs. Hofstra, 2008
Career-High Sacks: 1 vs. Towson, Villanova, 2008
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