FOOTBALL
Name: Te Nguyen
University: Mount Allison University
Hometown: Oakville, ON
High school: Holy Trinity HS
Position: LB
Academic program: Science
Year of eligibility: 5
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 200 lbs
Key stats 2014:
44.5 Total Tackles, 3.5 Sacks, 8 TFL’s for 25 yards, 1 FR, 3 Pass Breakups
Awards & honours (since start of CIS career):
2013 & 2014 AUS All-Star.
Profile:
Te Nguyen is entering his fifth year with the Mount Allison Mounties with optimism as he leads a team in search of its third consecutive AUS title.
With recent success the veteran Linebacker focuses on the process and improvement, “We want to go undefeated in conference play again and get 14 points better as a program.” Nguyen’s “14 points” reference points to the fact the Mounties lost by 12 in the 2014 Mitchell Bowl to McMaster who eventually lost by 1 in the national championship. “Our focus all offseason has been to get 14 points better in everything we do.”
As 2015 approaches, Nguyen’s career tackle totals have piled up since taking over the starting Middle Linebacker spot in just his second CIS game. Nguyen’s 176.5 total tackles in four seasons are 4th all-time in the AUS. Nguyen says, “For individual goals I want to be All-Canadian, lead the AUS in tackles and become the AUS all-time leading tackler.” Nguyen’s tackle totals put him 2 tackles from third place, 24 tackles from second place and 55 tackles from former Mountie Matt Harding’s AUS career record of 231. While the career tackles record is in reach, Te’s focus to get there is simple, “I always approach games by having the mental component down with situations, play call and formations so I can play fast when the ball is snapped.”
Nguyen began his football career at age 13 for the Holy Trinity Titans. After a successful high school career, Te selected Mount Allison for reasons other than football. “I decided on Mount Allison because of the small class sizes combined with the high academic integrity. There was also a great family atmosphere and small, tight knit community vibe.” Te’s combination of talent and work ethic has lead him to receive the teams “Coaches Award” for leadership and preparation for three straight years. He has also been awarded a conference all-star selection in back to back seasons to go along with being voted as team captain for the past two seasons.
Entering his final season, Te’s top moment came in his third season, “My most memorable moment was when we won the AUS championship in 2013. We had a lot of adversity in those first three seasons and to finally overcome that and finish with a championship was incredible.” Nguyen was pivotal in Mount Allison’s first AUS championship in 17 years. With two minutes left Nguyen intercepted the SMU pass and returned it deep into Huskie territory to set up the game winning field goal.
Te’s Year-by-Year Profile:
2014: (Senior) Started eight games…2014 AUS All-Star…44.5 Total Tackles (4th AUS)…8 TFL’s (T-6th AUS)…9 Total Tackles in two playoff games…Finished season 4th in Career Total Tackles with 176.5...Mount Allison Coaches Award
2013: (Junior) Started eight games…2013 AUS All-Star…Week 10 AUS Defensive Player of the Week (Loney Bowl)…49 Total Tackles (10th CIS, 4th AUS)…4 INT’s (T-4th CIS), 1 Playoff INT to set up winning FG in Loney Bowl…15.5 Total Tackles in three playoff games…4.5 TFL in regular season…Mount Allison Coaches Award
2012: (Sophomore) Started eight games in the regular season…Finished 2012 with 38 tackles (10th AUS)…Scored 2 TD’s (INT, FR)…1st Playoff appearance with Mounties…Mount Allison Coaches Award…Seven total tackles in playoff game.
2011: (Freshman) Started seven games. Took over as a starter in week 2…Recorded 45 Total Tackles as a Freshman (3rd AUS, 2nd MTA)….6.5 TFL’s.
Mount Allison Head Coach Kelly Jeffrey on Te Nguyen:
“Te has been the heart of our defense for the past four years. His 37 consecutive starts at MLB is a tribute to his work ethic and toughness and spills over to the rest of the defense. He has won our Coaches Award three years in a row due to his excellent preparation and team first mentality. He has been named a Team Captain the past two seasons as voted by the team for his leadership and example he provides.”
“Te was passed over by a lot of other programs due to his size but you could see he had something special in him to excel and plays with a chip on his shoulder. His career stats are incredible and speak to his consistency of preparation and focus from game to game. He’s been the perfect fit in the middle of our defense and we expect him to lead us once again in 2015.”
Te Nguyen's Career Stats Summary: (Click here)
Source: Mount Allison Communications