Applewhite (6-3, 246) is a three-year linebacker in his fourth year with the Chargers. He played in one game in 2009 before an injury forced him to Reserve-Injured.
Applewhite made a full recovery in 2010 and started 13 of 16 games, recording a career-high 48 tackles, three sacks, two pass defensed and two forced fumbles.
Off the field, Applewhite has involved himself in a handful of charitable activities, including serving holiday meals provided by the San Diego Food Bank. Applewhite enjoys going to the movies, watching his favorite NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and fishing. Applewhite will look to rebound in 2010 from a hamstring injury that cost him nearly the entire ’09 season. He hurt it during the season-opener in Oakland and tried to come back, but after missing four games, Applewhite was ultimately placed on the “Reserve-Injured” list. A former standout on a couple of under-performing teams at San Diego State, Applewhite applied for early draft status following his junior season in ’06 and all 32 NFL teams passed him over. Opting to stay close to home, he signed with the Chargers as a free agent and landed on the team’s practice squad before moving on to the active roster.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Chargers, May 4,2007...waived Sept. 1, 2007...signed to practice squad, Nov. 21, 2007...re-signed, Jan. 23, 2008...waived Aug. 20 and signed to practice squad, Sept. 1, 2008...signed two-year contract to active roster, Sept. 10, 2008.
2010: Sack in 1Q Sept 26 at SEA...Sack in 3Q Dec. 5 vs. OAK...Jan. 2 at DEN, sack in 3Q...
2009: INA Weeks 2-5 and placed on “Reserve-Injured” (hamstring) Oct. 20.
2008: Chargers Alumni ST POM in December...with 1:13 remaining in 4Q Dec. 14 at KC, hit and FF on Dwayne Bowe during onsides kick…Bolts recovered and four plays later scored go-ahead TD to win, 22-21…season-high seven TTs vs. Chiefs…four-yard TFL on fake punt in Jan. 11 Divisional Playoffs at PIT.
2007: Practice squad player.
COLLEGE: First-team All-MWC as junior…honorable mention All-MWC as soph…INT and 75-yard return set up TD as RS frosh in 2004 game against 17th-ranked Michigan…finished career with 126 TT, 17 sacks and 22.5 TFL…left school following junior season to enter NFL Draft…redshirted in ’03 and was scout team defensive POY…played at San Diego State from 2003-06…criminal justice major.
PERSONAL: Born in Los Angeles…all-league, all-area and allregion at Narbonne HS in Torrance, Calif.
