April 29, 2013
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Former Cal defensive lineman Aaron Tipoti has agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills the NFL team announced Monday. Tipoti is one of 16 undrafted college free agents the club expects to sign their contracts before the start of the Bills' Rookie Mini-Camp on May 10.
"I'm just thankful for the opportunity to get one step closer to my dreams and join many of my former teammates at the next level," Tipoti said.
Tipoti played in 43 games with 18 starts over the last four seasons of his five campaigns at Cal from 2008-12. He totaled 91 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss (-31 yards), 1.5 sacks (-15 yards), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
Tipoti played in 10 games with eight starts and recorded a career-high 31 tackles as a senior in 2012, while adding 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard), the lone quarterback hurry of his career and one fumble recovery to earn the team's Brick Muller Award as its Most Valuable Lineman on defense. He posted a career-high seven tackles in his final collegiate game at Oregon State. He was on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy given to college football's top interior lineman on either side of the ball and also a first-team preseason All-Pac-12 selection of Phil Steele.
As a junior in 2011 Tipoti played in 11 games with six starts when he earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors from the league's coaches and a third-team All-Pac-12 selection by College Sports Madness. Tipoti also added a pair of team honors with the Bob Tessier Award for the Most Improved Lineman and the Ken Cotton Award for the Most Courageous Player, both on defense. He posted 25 tackles and career highs in tackles for loss and tackle for loss yards (4.0, -22 yards), as well as sacks and sack yards (1.5, -15 yards). He also added his lone career pass breakup, and a career-high-tying one forced fumble.
Tipoti played in 10 games off the bench as a sophomore in 2010, totaling 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss (-7 yards) and the first forced fumble of his career.
Tipoti's first action at Cal came as a redshirt freshman in 2009 when he received the team's Bob Simmons Award as the Most Valuable Freshman on defense. Tipoti played in 12 games with four starts that came in consecutive contests during the second half of the season. He registered 21 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard).
Tipoti is one of seven former Cal players from the team's 2012 roster to join an NFL team and bring Cal's total of NFL players to 45 according to ESPN.com.
The four Golden Bears selected in the 2013 NFL Draft were WR Keenan Allen (San Diego Chargers, third round, No. 76 overall), OL Marc Anthony (Baltimore Ravens, seventh round, No. 247 overall)
Tipoti, TB C.J. Anderson (Denver Broncos) and DB Josh Hill (Arizona Cardinals) have joined NFL teams following the completion of the 2013 draft.
Other former Cal players who completed their collegiate eligibility in 2012 that attended local pro days hosted by Cal and/or the San Francisco 49ers but were not selected for the 2013 NFL Draft or have yet to formally join NFL teams include include TB Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson (played senior year at Northern Arizona), DB Zach Maynard, LB Robert Mullins, DL Kendrick Payne, TB Matt Summers-Gavin.
Many players who are not drafted typically join NFL rosters shortly after the NFL Draft by signing undrafted free agent contracts. Cal will not announce information until players officially join NFL teams.
