2011 - Junior: Played in all 13 games, making one start ... Had 16 tackles, one sack and two PBUs on the season ... Had two tackles against Minnesota, Michigan, Western Michigan, Arizona State and Arkansas State ... Had a sack at Indiana ... Had PBUs against Western Michigan and South Dakota State.

2010 - Sophomore: Played in all 13 games, making three starts at the bandit position ... Had 26 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack, two forced fumbles, one PBU and one hurry on the season ... Posted three tackles and 1.5 TFLs in victory over Purdue ... Tallied a career-high two TFLs and forced a fumble in win over Indiana ... Recorded first career QB hurry against Michigan State ... Posted two tackles and one PBU in win at Penn State ... Tallied a career-high six tackles in victory over Northern Illinois ... Recorded first career QB sack, tackle for loss and forced fumble in win over Southern Illinois ... Earned team's Best Effort Defense award during 2010 spring drills.

2009 - Redshirt Freshman: Played in 10 games, primarily on special teams ... Forced a fumble against Ohio State.

2008 - Freshman: Redshirted the 2008 season.

High School: PrepStar Magazine All-American ... Rated the 19th-best recruit in the state of Ohio by Rivals.com ... Ranked No. 30 among outside linebackers nationally according to Rivals.com ... Named to the Cleveland Plain Dealer All-State team ... Recorded 92 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, 11 pass break-ups, six forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles as a senior ... Listed as the No. 33 weakside linebacker nationally by Scout.com ... Named to the Midwest Hot 100 list by Scout.com ... Picked for the Big 33 All-Star game (featuring the best Pennsylvania and Ohio seniors) ... Posted 52 tackles, four sacks and four fumble recoveries as a junior, and 28 tackles and two sacks as a sophomore ... High school coach was Scot Niedzwiecki.

Personal: Full name is Justin Ikeem Staples ... Son of Shelley and Lenson Staples ... Born Dec. 10, 1989 ... Majoring in sociology ... Chose Illinois over Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan State.

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 6 vs. Northern Illinois, 9/18/10
Solos: 2, twice (last time vs. Indiana, 10/23/10)
Forced Fumble: 1, twice (last time vs. Indiana, 10/23/10)
Fumble Recovered: 1 at Ohio State, 9/26/09
QB Sacks: 1, twice (last time vs. Indiana, 10/8/11)
QB Hurry: 1 at Michigan State, 10/16/10
TFL: 2 vs. Indiana, 10/23/10
PBU: 1, three times (last time vs. Western Michigan, 9/24/11)

Staples' Statistics:

Staples's Game-By-Game Statistics

(updated 5/23/12)