Jaguar Highlights: Listed as a starter at linebacker entering the fall season ... Collected five stops — including an assisted sack — in the initial scrimmage of the spring season.
As A Junior (2013): Saw action in all 12 games, contributing on defense as well as special teams ... Finished with 27 total stops, a figure that included two for loss and a sack ... Broke up one pass as well, the first of his career, in win at Tulane ... Recorded a career-high nine tackles against Sun Belt Conference co-champion Arkansas State, including a sack for a loss of six yards ... Had five stops at both Troy and Navy, with one behind the line of scrimmage against the Midshipmen ... Posted four tackles in Homecoming victory over Kent State ... Finished with a pair of stops at Tennessee.
Junior College Highlights (2012): Helped Northwest Mississippi CC finish ninth in the final National Junior College Athletic Association poll after sharing the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges North Division title ... Team was 8-2 overall, 5-1 in league action following a victory over Kilgore (Texas) JC in the inaugural Brazos Valley Bowl ... Part of a defense that was 14th nationally allowing 316.6 yards per game while forcing 37 turnovers ... Tied for fourth on the team with 53 total tackles, which included 4½ for a loss of 26 yards with a pair of sacks, to earn first-team all-league honors ... Also recovered two fumbles, and had an interception and a pass defensed ... Credited with a season-best nine stops against Mississippi Gulf Coast CC in the MACJC playoffs ... Collected seven tackles in a victory over Holmes (Miss.) CC, following with six each of the next two weeks against East Mississippi CC and Jones County (Miss.) JC ... Posted five tackles in wins over Northeast Mississippi CC and Mississippi Delta CC, recording two and 1½ stops behind the line against the two, respectively.
As A Freshman (2011): Recorded 25 tackles in 10 appearances, with two of those behind the line of scrimmage ... Also had an interception and a fumble recovery ... Had season-best five stops and returned an interception six yards in victory over Henderson (Ark.) State, matching that total in the season finale against Cal Poly while also recovering a fumble ... Posted four assisted stops, with one for loss, in Mississippi Valley State win ... Finished with three tackles at Georgia State, with one of those an assist behind the line ... Credited with three stops, including one for loss, in Lamar victory, adding three tackles the following week at North Carolina State.
High School Highlights: Lettered in football all four years at Decatur High ... Rated second among inside linebackers in Alabama by ESPN.com ... Received three stars from Rivals.com and two from Scout.com, which also had him among the top 100 middle linebackers in the country ... Played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, finishing with four total stops including a tackle for a loss of five yards to help the team to a 24-17 double-overtime win ... Helped DHS finish 9-2 after advancing to the state 6A playoffs as a senior ... Scored the Red Raiders’ only touchdown in their postseason game on an eight-yard run ... Collected 109 tackles, with 13 behind the line of scrimmage, his junior season, adding 57 rushes for 339 yards on offense ... As a sophomore, posted 95 tackles and two interceptions ... Served as a team captain ... Also a four-year letterwinner in track.
Personal: Full name is Desmond Alsavion LaVelle ... Born Jan. 18, 1992, in Decatur, Ala. ... Son of Alfred and Sharon LaVelle ... Is the youngest of six children ... Favorite movie is “Life” ... Favorite book is “Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai” ... Favorite team is the Baltimore Ravens ... Favorite player is Brian Dawkins ... Favorite musical artists are Nickelback, Outkast and 50 Cent ... Favorite food is pizza ... Is an artist off the field ... Also recruited by Washington State and Middle Tennessee ... Major is interdisciplinary studies.
