One of the most intriguing players coming out of the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl was a former small-school linebacker, Marte Mapu out of Sacramento State.
In 41 games at Sacramento State, Mapu filled the stat sheets with 165 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 7 interceptions, and 22 pass deflections. With all of the plays on the ball, those stats may be surprising for a linebacker, but that’s because Mapu played all over the field during his time as a Hornet. In four seasons, he saw time playing cornerback, three different safety positions, and linebacker. His versatility and playmaking didn’t go unnoticed as he was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and an FCS All-American in 2022.