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Action Photo Credit: Grayson HS
Portrait Photo Credit: Rivals.com

Tristan Strong    Linebacker    6'1"    220
Grayson High School | Loganville, Georgia
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HIGH SCHOOL Senior captain, helping squad to 10-3 overall record and appearance in Georgia AAAAA state quarterfinals... Two-year starter at LB; three-year letterwinner... As senior, posted 46 total tackles, 31 solo stops, three QB sacks and a pair of INTs... Recovered fumble for TD... Returned two punts for 14.5-yard average... In 2006, squad went 6-6, advancing to first round of playoffs... As junior, contributed 51 total tackles, seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a blocked kick... Named to first team 5A All-State squad and All-Gwinnett County team... Two-time All-Region pick... Played in recent Georgia North-South All-Star Game... Played two years of varsity basketball... Honors student recognized as one of school's top scholar-athletes.

PERSONAL Tristan Julio Strong... Son of Julio and Jody Strong... Born on Nov. 10, 1989... Dad is an electrician; mom is a florist... Two uncles, Tami Tarbush and Ricky Payne, played football at South Carolina; another uncle, Rod Cole, played basketball at Georgia.

GRAYSON HEAD COACH MICKEY CONN
"Vanderbilt is getting a real classy individual with Tristan Strong. He's a guy that's involved in student leadership, his academics are great, and he's going to give you all he's got on the field.

"He's a fast kid, a real natural athlete that is really put together physically. Plus, Tristan has been just a great leader for our squad."He's an extremely versatile football player.

"He's a presence on the field. We ran a 3-4 scheme defensively with Tristan playing outside linebacker. Most teams just tried to go the other way, away from him. That limited his production."

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