Player Career

Rico Tolefree Career Story

Career story, signature performances, transfer context, and season arc are grouped for biography-style searches.

Player Story

Rico Tolefree story

Rico Tolefree built his college career from 2017 through 2022 as a linebacker from Richmond, CA wearing No. 16, spending time with San José State. The clearest part of Rico Tolefree's career was his defensive production: 94 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions across 35 career games in the available record. His largest box-score season came in 2019 with San José State. Those numbers show where he fit, how often the ball or action found him, and how his role developed over time.

Defensive careers can be hard to read from one number, but Rico Tolefree's production has multiple signals. With 35 career games in the available record, his career has enough shape to show both opportunity and production across San José State.

The arc is straightforward: Rico Tolefree moved through the depth chart, found a larger role, and turned that opportunity into production that can be understood through standard football numbers.

Career Arc

Track team changes, role shifts, and season-to-season movement.

  1. 1

    San José State

    2017-2022

    Opening stop

Season Value Progression

2017201820192020202120222022
SeasonTeamPrimaryEfficiencyUsageDelta
2017 Regular SeasonSan José State04.20.7—
2018 Regular SeasonSan José State0——0
2019 Regular SeasonSan José State6.524.87.76.5
2020 Regular SeasonSan José State06.31.2-6.5
2021 Regular SeasonSan José State5.514.33.85.5
2022 PostseasonSan José State27.84.6-3.5
2022 Regular SeasonSan José State27.84.60

Signature Performances

Top Games

#1 Featured game

@ Army

Week 9 · W 34-29

Win with backfield disruption leading the way.

3

Havoc Plays

85 takeover

3 disruption/tackle impact with 85 takeover score.

Game stats

#2

vs Eastern Michigan

Week 1 · L 27-41 · Postseason

2

Havoc Plays

74.7 takeover

Loss with 2 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

2 disruption/tackle impact with 74.7 takeover score.

Game stats

#3

@ Nevada

Week 7 · L 38-41 · Conference game

2.5

Havoc Plays

73.6 takeover

Loss with 2.5 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

2.5 disruption/tackle impact with 73.6 takeover score.

Game stats

#4

@ Hawai'i

Week 3 · W 17-13 · Conference game

1.5

Havoc Plays

71.7 takeover

Win with 1.5 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

1.5 disruption/tackle impact with 71.7 takeover score.

Game stats

#5

@ Western Michigan

Week 4 · L 3-23

2

Havoc Plays

66.7 takeover

Loss with 2 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

2 disruption/tackle impact with 66.7 takeover score.

Game stats

Top Seasons

#1 Season by Season Value

2019 Regular Season · San José State

6.5 primary output · 24.8 efficiency · 7.7 usage

49.6

#2

2020 Regular Season · San José State

38.6

0 primary · 6.3 efficiency · 1.2 usage

#3

2017 Regular Season · San José State

36.7

0 primary · 4.2 efficiency · 0.7 usage

Milestones

5

Impact games

4

Splash games

0

10+ tackle games

Next best actions

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