Biography
2019
• Enrolled at Purdue in January of 2019 and participated in spring practice.
• First-team Associated Press Freshman All-American.
• Second-team All-Big Ten.
• Started all 12 games.
• Finished third on the team with 54 total tackles, including 30 solo stops.
• Led the team with 17.0 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks.
• Broke up a pair of passes, had an interception, recovered two fumbles and forced another.
• Finished with four tackles, two solo, with 1.5 tackles for loss and an assisted sack at Nevada on Aug. 30.
• Broke up a pass and had four tackles vs. Vanderbilt on Sept. 7.
• Had a sack amongst 2.0 TFLs, intercepted a pass and recorded six total tackles vs. TCU on Sept. 14.
• Tallied five tackles, including 1.5 sacks, against Minnesota on Sept. 28.
• Posted a season-high eight tackles, including 3.0 TFLs with a sack, and broke up a pass at No. 12 Penn State on Oct. 5.
• Had two tackles, with 1.5 TFLs, vs. Maryland on Oct. 12.
• Posted four tackles with a sack at No. 23 Iowa on Oct. 19.
• Finished with six tackles, including 2.0 TFLs with a sack, against Illinois on Oct. 26.
• Had two tackles vs. Nebraska on Nov. 2.
• Tallied five tackles, including 2.0 for losses, and recovered a fumble at Northwestern on Nov. 9.
• Had three solo stops, and forced and recovered a fumble at No. 14 Wisconsin on Nov. 23.
• Wrapped up the season with 1.5 sacks amongst five tackles vs. Indiana on Nov. 30.
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-star defensive end by 247Sports.
• Four-star defensive end by Rivals.
• Four-star defensive end by ESPN.
• Selected to play in 2019 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he received national Defensive Player of the Year honor.
• Team went 15-0 in 2018, winning Indiana Class 3A state championship.
• Indiana Class 3A Player of the Year.
• 2018 Top 50 All-Indiana by Indiana Football Coaches Association.
• Associated Press All-State Class 3A as a senior.
• 2018 IndyStar Mr. Football Defensive Lineman of the Year.
• According to MaxPreps, finished his senior season with 106 tackles, including 56 for loss and 17.5 sacks.
• Via MaxPreps, he finished his prep career with 332 tackles, including 84 tackles for loss and 41 sacks.
• Back-to-back state champion in shot put - 59 feet, 5 1/2 inches as a sophomore and 60 feet, 1/2 inch as a junior.
PERSONAL
• Given name is George Matthew Karlaftis.
• Born April 3, 2001.
• Majoring in construction management.
• Moved to West Lafayette, Indiana, from Athens, Greece, in eighth grade, when he began playing football.
