Aaron Donald

Considered a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, he was rated as the 37th best defensive tackle in the nation.

He committed to hometown Pittsburgh over other scholarship offers from Toledo, Akron, and Rutgers.

As a true freshman, Donald played in all 13 games as a reserve defensive end for Pitt.

He recorded 11 tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks.

Aaron Charles Donald (born May 23, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL).

The record was previously held by Tank Johnson, who ran a 4.69 in 2004.

He drew comparisons to John Randle afterwards.

In 2011, as a sophomore, Donald moved into the starting lineup, and turned in a breakout campaign.

He recorded 47 tackles, including 16 for loss, 11 sacks and one forced fumble, and was named a second-team All-Big East Conference selection.

As a junior, he recorded 64 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, earning first-team All-Big East honors.

In his senior season, he became one of the most productive defensive players in the entire NCAA.

He posted 59 tackles, including a career best 28.5 for loss, 11 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-American.

At the NFL Combine, Donald set the record for fastest 40-yard dash time for a defensive tackle with a 4.68.

He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he received unanimous All-American honors, and was selected by the Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Regarded as one of the greatest defensive players of all time, he has been named Defensive Player of the Year a record three times (tied with J. J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor), along with receiving Pro Bowl selections in all ten of his seasons and eight first-team All-Pro honors.

Donald was also a member of the team that won Super Bowl LVI.

A native of Pittsburgh, Donald grew up as one of three children in a working-class family in the city's Lincoln–Lemington–Belmar neighborhood.

His father introduced him to workouts, seeking to provide more structure in his son's life.

Donald himself later admitted that he was "lazy as a kid."

By age 12, he and his father woke up at 4:30 am and worked out for nearly two hours in the basement gym that his father installed in the family home.

Donald attended Penn Hills High School, where he played high school football for head coach Ron Graham.

He was selected first-team All-State Class AAAA in each of his final two seasons, and compiled 63 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks as a senior.

Donald also started at offensive guard.

Donald was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round with the 13th overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft.

On June 16, 2014, the Rams signed Donald to a four-year, fully guaranteed $10.13 million rookie contract.

The contract also included a $5.69 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option.

On September 7, 2014, Donald made his regular season debut against the Minnesota Vikings and finished the 34–6 loss with four tackles.

The following week, he recorded three tackles and his first NFL sack during a 19–17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On October 13, 2014, he was given his first career start against the San Francisco 49ers and finished the game with four solo tackles.

After recording 47 tackles, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles, Donald was one of five rookies selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl.

Donald won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

In 2015, Donald began the season as a starting defensive tackle.

During the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, he finished with nine total tackles and two sacks, helping the Rams win 34–31 in overtime.

He was named National Football Conference (NFC) Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his NFL career for his performance.

On December 13, 2015, Donald made five tackles and a career-high three sacks against the Detroit Lions in Week 14.

He earned his second NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in 2015 after his performance against the Lions.

Donald started all 16 games, ending the season with 69 tackles, 11 sacks, a pass defended, and a fumble recovery.

He earned a First-team All-Pro selection for the first time in his NFL career.

He was a Pro Bowl selection for the second consecutive season.