UL Athlete (1998-2002) Charles Tillman

[Louisiana]

Pre-LA

Two-time All-District 8-5A and all-area team selection at Copperas Cove (Texas)

Named to the Super Cen-Tex team as selected by the Austin American-Statesman

All-State Class 5A honorable mention … coached by Jack Welch.

[Louisiana]

Charles began the season on special teams but quickly joined the starting lineup and mande himself a regular

He finished second on the team with 50 solo tackles, 30 assists and 82 total tackles. He also finished second on the team with 6 pass breakups and lead Louisiana with three fumble recoveries.

Tillman came off the bench in the first four games, but was named starter for the five of the last seven games.

1999: Finished second on the team with 50 solo tackles, 30 assists and 82 total tackles...Finished second on the team with six pass break-ups and led the Cajuns with three fumble recoveries...Came off the bench in the first four games but started five of the last seven games...Steady defensive star with at least five tackles in eight games, including seven of the last eight...Posted 20 tackles, with nine solo stops against Wofford...Tied with Mike Ellis for the third-highest tackle total by a defensive back in school history.

[Louisiana]

2000: Named to the Football News All-Independent Team and was placed on the All-Louisiana first team...Received the Outstanding Defensive Player and Special Team Award from his teammates and coaches at the team’s postseason banquet...Finished season with 0.55 interceptions per game to rank ninth nationally...Also broke up a team-best nine passes and forced three fumbles...Not afraid of contact as shown by his 64 tackles and 48 solo stops, both second best among the Cajuns...Picked up the loose ball after Robert Davis blocked a UAB attempt and raced to the end zone for a defensive PAT attempt against the Blazers...Was the first defensive PAT for the Cajuns in school history...Posted the first two interceptions of his collegiate career at Texas Tech...

[Louisiana]

As a Junior, Charles led Louisiana with four interceptions.

2001: All-Conference defensive back had another solid year…Led Cajuns with four interceptions, including two picks in season-finale at Central Florida…Also paced squad with eight pass-breakups…Finished fifth on team with 38 tackles…Had season-best 11 stops against Minnesota.

[Cajun1997]

As of this date He leads the team in tackles with 76 total, 48-solo and 28-assist. The next closest palyer is Brian Deamer with 42 total tackles. Ivan Taylor is second to Tillman in solo tackles with 24.

[CAJUNDOG]

I saw that #5 a lot on the defensive plays. He seemed to be around most of the tackles & the blocked passes every time I looked after the play.

[NewsCopy]

LOUISIANA La. - When one of Louisiana's equipment managers told Charles Tillman Tuesday that head coach Rickey Bustle wanted to see him, the senior Texan didn't know what to think.

"It was like, dang, what have I done now," Tillman said Wednesday. "I figured I was in trouble for something."

What Bustle needed was to check Tillman's calendar for January and February, and see if he'd be interested in a trip to Maui.

That's when Tillman was informed that he was headed to the 2003 Hula Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 1 in the Hawaiian Islands.

"He (Bustle) told me to pick my head up, he had good news this time," Tillman laughed. "Right there, I was the happiest guy in Louisiana."

Tillman, a senior from Copperas Cove, Texas, is the second Cajun and the second member of the UL Lafayette secondary to be named to play in that all-star game. Cornerback Ivan Taylor was picked to play in that game two weeks ago.

Tillman will wrap up a stellar career in two weeks, already holding 267 career tackles and 12 interceptions. But it may have been a shift in the last three weeks that put him in the forefront to bowl representatives and pro scouts.

After spending most of his career at a cornerback slot, Tillman has shifted over to free safety for the Cajuns' last three games. It may not be by coincidence that the Cajuns have won their last two and have had strong defensive efforts in both.

"There is no question that Flea is an NFL caliber player," said Bustle. "NFL teams need to decide which position is better for him. I've talked to almost every pro scout since we moved him to free safety, and they all think that being able to play another position has helped him."

The rest of the story

South Louisiana Publishing
Dan McDonald

[Turbine]

Tillman & Bartel. Hmmm must have been a preseason prediction of at least 2 Cajuns in the hULa Bowl.

[Turbine]

Charles Tillman a class act.

[PattiTatum]

From what I understand most of the guys love getting selected to the Hula Bowl because of the trip to Hawaii. It is great that we will have 2 going. It gives the program a bit of a boost for future recruits.

[WebWatchDog]

Hula Bowl is great it is one of the last things NFL scouts see before the draft. Can someone make a hULa bowl logo?

Late WebWatchDog

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana La. - Charles Tillman will be remembered for many things during his years at Louisiana.

There are his 278 career tackles, second among defensive backs and fifth overall in school history.

There are his 12 career interceptions, including three games with two pickoffs each.

There is his willingness to tutor Ivan Taylor, who moved over from offense his senior year, as well as Tillman's willingness to move to safety from cornerback to help solidify the Cajun secondary.

Both players earned invitations to the Hula Bowl and will get an opportunity in the NFL.

There is also Tillman's leadership on special teams, a role for which he was named Player of the Week in the Sun Belt Conference this week.

And there is his focus, which has enabled him to graduate this December.

But it took four years for someone to finally clear up Tillman's nickname of "Peanut."

"My aunt Renee gave me that name," Tillman said Monday. "It turns out the doctors were wrong about when I was due, and when I was born everyone thought I was premature. I think I weighed about four pounds.

"My aunt said, 'He looks like a little peanut.' "

The name stuck, and Tillman eventually came to Louisiana from Copperas Cove, Texas, and stuck with the Cajun program despite a paucity of victories.

The rest of the story

South Louisiana Publishing
Dan McDonald