Chris Galippo
Encyclopedia
Chris Galippo is an American football
linebacker
for the University of Southern California
. Galippo became the first defensive player to ever win the Pete Dawkins Trophy
for being selected as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
's most valuable player.
Galippo has been compared to NFL linebackers Brian Urlacher
and A. J. Hawk
.
in Anaheim, California, and was the 2005 Serra League co-defensive player of the year, as well as the Orange County Register Defensive Player of the Year. In 2005-2006 he was an ALL CIF-SS
Division-1 first-team selection. Galippo finished with 161 tackles
as a junior, believed to be a school record.
Along with USC, Galippo was recruited heavily by other top college football programs, including UCLA
, Arizona State
, Boston College
, and Ole Miss
.
Galippo started 2007 by earning MVP honors at the nation's most recognized high school all-star game, the Army All-American Bowl. Galippo, who ended the game with more than a dozen tackles, led the West team to a 24-7 victory. Galippo's dominant performance came way of a variety of plays. The five-star linebacker, who had been labeled as the West's vocal leader throughout practices, started the game off with four tackles in the first quarter.
Making great reads, Galippo shot the gaps on several plays and never allowed the East offensive line to establish a running game up the middle. Galippo played middle linebacker at Servite High School and hopes to have a bright future playing in the middle when he arrives at USC. In fact, by the third quarter, Galippo had already racked up double digit tackles, including several signature tackles outside the hash mark.
Galippo has a 3.5 GPA and plans to major in communications at USC, with a minor in business. Galippo grew up a huge Ken Norton Jr. fan, which aided strongly in his decision to attend USC.
"I don't expect to redshirt
," Galippo says. "I definitely believe I can crack that lineup."
Chris played in the first three games of the 2007 season, where he played on special teams and was a back-up at the linebacker position. He made two tackles against Washington State four tackles against Nebraska
, and two against Idaho
. In spite of playing the first three games, Galippo received a medical redshirt for the 2007 season. Recurring back problems since the beginning of fall camp influenced him to redshirt. He decided to redshirt and undergo surgery so that he would not have to deal with back problems in the future. Upon redshirting, he will remain with 4 years of eligibility.
In October 2009, he was named a midseason All-American by The Sporting News
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Galippo became the first defensive player to ever win the Pete Dawkins Trophy
Pete Dawkins Trophy
The Pete Dawkins Trophy is awarded to most valuable player of the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The trophy is named for Pete Dawkins, a former Army halfback who won the 1958 Heisman Trophy.-Past winners:...
for being selected as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
's most valuable player.
Galippo has been compared to NFL linebackers Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher
Brian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...
and A. J. Hawk
A. J. Hawk
-Green Bay Packers:On April 29, 2006 Hawk was drafted in the 1st round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was the 5th overall pick of the draft. He signed a 6-year contract with the Packers, worth $37.5 million, on July 28, 2006...
.
High school career
Galippo played middle linebacker at Servite High SchoolServite High School
Servite High School is an all-boys, Roman Catholic college preparatory high school operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary . Located on a campus in Anaheim, California, USA, as of 2011 it had an enrollment of about 985 and about 9200 alumni. Its mascot is the Friar and its colors are black...
in Anaheim, California, and was the 2005 Serra League co-defensive player of the year, as well as the Orange County Register Defensive Player of the Year. In 2005-2006 he was an ALL CIF-SS
CIF Southern Section
C.I.F. Southern Section is the largest of the ten sections that comprise the California Interscholastic Federation . Its membership includes most public and private high schools in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Mono and Inyo counties, as...
Division-1 first-team selection. Galippo finished with 161 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
as a junior, believed to be a school record.
Along with USC, Galippo was recruited heavily by other top college football programs, including UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
, Arizona State
Arizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
, Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
, and Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
.
Galippo started 2007 by earning MVP honors at the nation's most recognized high school all-star game, the Army All-American Bowl. Galippo, who ended the game with more than a dozen tackles, led the West team to a 24-7 victory. Galippo's dominant performance came way of a variety of plays. The five-star linebacker, who had been labeled as the West's vocal leader throughout practices, started the game off with four tackles in the first quarter.
Making great reads, Galippo shot the gaps on several plays and never allowed the East offensive line to establish a running game up the middle. Galippo played middle linebacker at Servite High School and hopes to have a bright future playing in the middle when he arrives at USC. In fact, by the third quarter, Galippo had already racked up double digit tackles, including several signature tackles outside the hash mark.
College career
Galippo claimed that the excitement of the coaching staff was a major factor in his decision to choose USC. However his deciding factor was its location.Galippo has a 3.5 GPA and plans to major in communications at USC, with a minor in business. Galippo grew up a huge Ken Norton Jr. fan, which aided strongly in his decision to attend USC.
"I don't expect to redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
," Galippo says. "I definitely believe I can crack that lineup."
Chris played in the first three games of the 2007 season, where he played on special teams and was a back-up at the linebacker position. He made two tackles against Washington State four tackles against Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
, and two against Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. In spite of playing the first three games, Galippo received a medical redshirt for the 2007 season. Recurring back problems since the beginning of fall camp influenced him to redshirt. He decided to redshirt and undergo surgery so that he would not have to deal with back problems in the future. Upon redshirting, he will remain with 4 years of eligibility.
In October 2009, he was named a midseason All-American by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
.