Tariq Speights
Linebacker
5’10”
230 LBS
SENIOR
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN MICHIGAN
EMU: 2021: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Candidate...Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch List...Appeared in all 13 games, starting each, for the Green and White in 2021...Led the team with 90 total tackles, including 18 solo and 72 assists...Finished 19th in the MAC with a 6.7 stop per game average...Recorded his first career sack against Texas State (Sept. 25)...Recorded a career-best 13 tackles in EMU’s contest against Ball State (Oct. 16)...Notched 10 games with five-or-more tackles...Tied a career-best mark with six solo tackles against Western Michigan (Nov. 16)...
2020: Earned Academic All-MAC honors...Appeared in all six games for the team, five of which were starts...Finished the season with a career-high 52 tackles (25 solo, 27 assisted)...Recorded two TFLs, good for five total yard...Had a season-best 12 stops against Central Michigan (Nov. 27)...Recorded 11-or-more tackles in three contests...Had multiple tackles in every game...Recorded TFLs against CMU (Nov. 27) and Northern Illinois (Dec. 12)...Had a quarterback hurry against Kent State (Nov. 4)...Helped organize a voter registration drive at EMU to get students out to vote in 2020...The goal was to challenge every eligible member of Eastern's 18 varsity sports to be registered to vote...Helped organize a Black Lives Matter rally that involved both athletic departments of EMU and Michigan...This was about using their platform as college athletes, opening eyes, sharing a cause, and bringing awareness to racial inequality in this country...Helped host a MLK Day March in Ypsilanti of Student-Athletes...The celebration, which consisted of both an in-person march and virtual panel discussion...
2019: Played in eight games recording 13 tackles...Had a personal-best six stops against Buffalo (Nov. 2)....Added two tackles and a forced fumble against Toledo (Oct. 26)...
COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS: Received 2018 California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) All-America Team honors...Selected as the Region III All-California Community College Defensive Player of the Year and the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) National Division, Northern League Defensive Player of the Year....Finished the campaign with a team-best 76 total tackles, including 53 of the solo variety, to go with four sacks, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception...Recorded seven games with at least seven tackles, while creating turnovers in four contests... Was the clear leader on a Cougar defensive unit that limited opponents to a state-best 9.5 points per game through the regular season, while surrendering just 10 touchdowns