BIOGRAPHY
Troy Apke was born on April 11th, 1995, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a free safety in the NFL.
He grew up in nearby Mt. Lebanon Township. He attended Mt. Lebanon High School, where he participated in football, basketball, and track and field. Apke advanced to the PIAA State Track and Field Championships in his junior and senior years. He was also the WPIAL Champion in the 100 meters in 2014, recording a time of 10.81 seconds. He was a three-year starter for the football team playing wide receiver and safety. During his junior and senior seasons Akpe had 1,776 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns and on defense, 68 tackles with 3 interceptions. He was originally recruited as a wide receiver.
During his freshman season, Apke played four games all on special teams totaling two tackles. In his sophomore year, he played in all 13 games starting one. He finished the season with 26 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection. During his junior season, Apke played in all 14 games starting one again. On October 1, he recorded a career high six tackles and one pass deflection in a win over Minnesota.
Prior to his senior season Apke was named a starter at safety by head coach James Franklin. In the season opener against Akron Zips, Apke had four tackles and was one of eight players to be a part of three-straight seasons with a shutout on the Nittany Lions roster. Also, he was one of three who played in all three of those games. Apke graduated with a degree in Criminology. Prior to playing in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, he was one of twenty on the roster who graduated before the Bowl game.
Apke was selected to participate in the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where he was named MVP after a team-high seven tackles, a forced fumble and a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Before the NFL Combine, it was announced that Apke was one of the eight Nittany Lions invited. In the 2018 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round, 109th overall. Apke made his NFL debut in the Redskins season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. During the game, Apke made a touchdown-saving tackle on a punt return.
