#36  Dahna Deleston

Redshirt Senior
Strong Safety
6-0, 211
East Hartford, Conn.

East Catholic

A fifth-year senior who started on a smooth transition during spring practice from starting strong safety to starting strongside “Husky” linebacker.

Career: UConn’s active leader with 210 career tackles … Has started 31 games and appeared in 35 … Has recorded 7.5 tackles for loss including a pair of sacks … Also has two career interceptions and six pass break ups.

2007: Started all 13 games at safety and was fourth on the team with 103 tackles … Also chipped in two TFLs, 1.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four pass break-ups … Had a 10-yard sack amongst his eight tackles against Syracuse (Nov. 17) … Recorded 10 stops at Cincinnati (Nov. 10) … Made 13 tackles in back-to-back games against USF (Oct. 27) and Rutgers (Nov. 3) … His nine tackles at Virginia (Oct. 13) were accompanied by an interception … Recovered a fumble, broke up two passes and made three tackles at Pittsburgh (Sept. 22) … Earned the defensive game ball against Temple (Sept. 15) after making 10 tackles, including a half of a sack, while forcing a fumble.

2006: Played in 11 games with 10 starts … Credited with 64 tackles on the year, three of them for a loss including a half of a sack … Recorded seven tackles, one for a loss, against Syracuse (Nov. 18) … Led UConn with 11 tackles in the double overtime win over Pittsburgh (Nov. 11) … Credited with seven stops and a forced fumble in the win over Army (Oct. 14) … Recorded eight stops against Navy (Sept. 30) … Had six tackles, all solo, and broke up a pass at Indiana (Sept. 23) … Split a sack, the first of his career, to go along with five tackles against Wake Forest (Sept. 16).

2005: Played in all 11 games, starting each of the first eight at strong safety … Was second amongst UConn defensive backs with 43 tackles (19 solo) including 2.5 for a loss … Intercepted a pass and broke up another … Made seven stops against Rutgers (Oct. 22) with a half of a TFL … Had seven tackles and his first career interception against Syracuse (Oct. 7) … Credited with six stops at Georgia Tech (Sept. 17) … Made seven tackles, one for a loss, against Liberty (Sept. 10) … Made six tackles in his collegiate debut against Buffalo (Sept. 1).

2004: Redshirted … Named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week prior to the Buffalo game (Nov. 20).

High School: Named second-team All-State by the New Haven Register and earned honorable mention All-State recognition from the Hartford Courant … A two-time All-Conference pick at running back … Helped the Eagles to an 11-0 regular season mark in 2003 and a trip to the class L state semifinals … Scored 14 touchdowns his junior year … Played in the Governors Cup All Star Game … Ran a 6.54 in the 55 meters to place fourth at the 2003 New England Indoor Track and Field Championships … Was also East Catholic’s starting center fielder and leadoff batter.

Personal Profile: Dahna Arneld Deleston … Born on December 6, 1985 … A sociology major.

YEAR   GP-GS UT      AT        TT        SKS       TFL        INT   PBU

2005   11-8   19      24       43       0-0      2.5-6     1     1

2006   11-10  33      31      64       0.5-5    3-10      0     1       

2007   13-13  47      56     103      1.5-14   2-14      1     4

Totals 35-31 99     111     210      2-19     7.5-30     2       6

DAHNA DELESTON’S CAREER HIGHS

Most Tackles: 13, 2x, last vs. Rutgers, 11/3/07

Most TFL:      1, 3x, last vs. Syracuse, 11/17/07

Most Sacks:   1, vs. Syracuse, 11/17/07

Most INT:      1, 2x, last at Virginia, 10/13/07