2007 Football Roster
Roster
Avery Hannibal
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 240
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- LaGrange, GA
- High School/Previous School:
- Troup County
CAREER:
Has played in 34 games during his Mississippi State career, contributing primarily on special teams but seeing increasingly extensive work as a reserve along the defensive line . . . Has made 24 tackles, including five tackles for loss (minus 36 yards), four of which were quarterback sacks (minus 32 yards) . . . Has also caused a pair of fumbles . . . Redshirted his true freshman season . . . Came to the Bulldogs following an all-state high school career in Georgia.
2006:
Played in 12 games during his junior season, seeing work as a top reserve on the defensive line and on special teams . . . Recorded eight tackles on the season, including two for loss (minus 12 yards), one of which was a quarterback sack (minus 8 yards) . . . Registered one tackle, an 8-yard quarterback sack, in the Bulldogs’ season opener with South Carolina . . . Made one hit at LSU in Week 5 . . . Credited with at least one hit in five of the season’s final six weeks . . . Added another tackle two weeks later in the Bulldogs’ win over Jacksonville State . . . Recorded another pair of hits in his personal homecoming at Georgia in Week 8 . . . Tacked on another tackle a week later vs. Kentucky . . . Made a tackle in the Bulldogs’ Week 10 win at Alabama, including one-half tackle for loss (minus 3 yards) . . . Added a half-tackle for loss (minus 1 yard) in the season finale at Ole Miss . . . Big-play spring session kept him in line for playing time along the defensive line . . . Recorded five tackles during three spring scrimmages, including four and one-half for loss, three of which were quarterback sacks . . . Enters August second on the depth chart at right defensive end.
2005:
Played in all 11 games during his sophomore season, continuing his work on special teams and as a valuable reserve on the defensive front . . . Registered six tackles on the season, a total that included one quarterback sack (minus 11 yards) . . . Recorded one tackle in Mississippi State’s season-opening win over Murray State . . . Added another hit one week later at Auburn in State’s SEC opener . . . Returned to the stats sheet in Week 6 at Florida . . . Had one hit against the Gators . . . Increased playing time in the Bulldogs’ next game vs. Houston resulted in a pair of tackles, including his quarterback sack (minus 11 yards) . . . Made one tackle at Kentucky in Week 8 . . . Named the Most Improved Defensive Player on the squad by the coaching staff following a standout spring practice . . . Rode that four-week performance to second on the depth chart at defensive tackle behind Deljuan Robinson . . . Recorded two tackles in the Maroon and White game, one of which was a quarterback sack (minus 2 yards).
2004:
Played in all 11 games during his first season of work on the game field . . . Served primarily on special teams, but did see some work on the defensive line . . . Tallied 10 tackles on the year, with two quarterback sacks to his credit (minus 13 yards) . . . Despite limited activity, tied for second on the club with two caused fumbles . . . Also credited with one pass pressure . . . After a brief trial at linebacker, he returned to the defensive line during camp and entered the ’04 season as a reserve at defensive end . . . Worked as a reserve during the Bulldogs’ season-opening 28-7 win over Tulane and recorded one tackle . . . Saw increased playing time one week later against Auburn . . . In late-game duty, he made three tackles, two of which were the team’s only quarterback sacks (minus 13 yards) against the Tigers . . . He was credited with a quarterback pressure and a caused fumble that the offense turned into the second touchdown of the game . . . Recorded a pair of tackles during Week 3 action against Maine . . . Totaled three tackles one week later at LSU . . . After making nine hits during the season’s first four weeks, he recorded just one tackle the remainder of the season (vs. Ole Miss) . . . Made a spring-time move from a down position on the line of scrimmage to middle linebacker in an effort to give him more opportunities on the field . . . Had a standout spring, leading the team with 15 tackles in three spring scrimmages . . . Also paced the club with eight hits behind the line of scrimmage (minus 29 yards), three of which were quarterback sacks (minus 15 yards) . . . Closed the spring second at middle linebacker behind Marvin Byrdsong.
2003:
Sat out the season as a true freshman redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL:
Ranked No. 55 among all strongside defensive ends in the country by Rivals.com . . . Credited with running a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash by that recruiting service . . . Rated with the top 50 defensive linemen in the Southeast in Rivals/PrepStar preseason magazine . . . Credited with a 350-pound bench press by that publication . . . Three-year starter at defensive tackle for head coach Tommy Walburn at Troup County (Ga.) High School in LaGrange . . . A three-time, all-state selection in the Georgia Class 4A ranks . . . Chosen to play in the Georgia-Florida high school all-star game . . . Registered 301 total tackles during his high school career, recording 17.5 quarterback sacks and 46 tackles for loss . . . Also caused nine fumbles and recovered five . . . Made 125 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, 10 of which were sacks during his junior season, leading his team to an 11-3 record . . . Also forced three fumbles . . . Was the Georgia Class 4-A state champion wrestler at the 215-pound weight class during his freshman and junior years . . . Gave up the sport during his senior season to concentrate on football despite ranking third nationally in his weight division . . . Honor roll student on the prep level.
PERSONAL:
Born Avery Weaver Hannibal, 11-17-83, in Passaic, N.J. . . . Son of Mrs. Joan Bradshaw, he lived with Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Smith (guardians) . . . Majoring in sociology.
