Ari Patu

Position:
Quarterback
Height:
6-4
Class:
Post Baccalaureate
Hometown:
Folsom, Calif.
Prev School:
North Alabama/Stanford

2026: Graduate transfer from North Alabama ... a three-year member of the Stanford program (2021-22-23) before spending two seasons at North Alabama (2024-25) … in 20 career games (four starts), completed 113-of-212 (.533) passes for 1,202 yards with nine TDs … added 87 carries for 260 yards (2.99) and three scores … compiled 1,578 yards of total offense... surpassed the 200-passing yard plateau in two games including a career-high 328 yards against Illinois State in 2024 … accounted for two or more TDs in two games with a personal-best four against Illinois State in 2025 … threw two or more touchdown passes in one game with a personal-best four against Illinois State in 2025 … completed 20 or more passes once with a career-high 21 versus Illinois State in 2024 … connected on a career-long 47-yard pass to Takairee Kenebrew against Illinois State in 2024 … registered five or more rushing attempts in nine games, 10 or more in four contests and tallied a personal-best 14 against Illinois State in 2025 … ripped off career-long runs of 25 yards against Southeast Missouri in 2024 and Western Kentucky in 2025 … scored one rushing TD against Southeast Missouri (2024), Illinois State (2024) and Southeast Missouri (2025) … as a true freshman at Stanford in 2021, started the Cardinals’ game at Oregon State, throwing a touchdown pass in the third quarter and totaling 51 yards passing and 31 yards rushing in the contest before exiting in the third … became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Stanford since John Paye in 1983.

PRIOR TO DUKE: A three-year member of the Stanford program (2021-22-23) before spending two seasons at North Alabama (2024-25) … in 20 career games (four starts), completed 113-of-212 (.533) passes for 1,202 yards with nine TDs … added 87 carries for 260 yards (2.99) and three scores … compiled 1,578 yards of total offense... surpassed the 200-passing yard plateau in two games including a career-high 328 yards against Illinois State in 2024 … accounted for two or more TDs in two games with a personal-best four against Illinois State in 2025 … threw two or more touchdown passes in one game with a personal-best four against Illinois State in 2025 … completed 20 or more passes once with a career-high 21 versus Illinois State in 2024 … connected on a career-long 47-yard pass to Takairee Kenebrew against Illinois State in 2024 … registered five or more rushing attempts in nine games, 10 or more in four contests and tallied a personal-best 14 against Illinois State in 2025 … ripped off career-long runs of 25 yards against Southeast Missouri in 2024 and Western Kentucky in 2025 … scored one rushing TD against Southeast Missouri (2024), Illinois State (2024) and Southeast Missouri (2025) … as a true freshman at Stanford in 2021, started the Cardinals’ game at Oregon State, throwing a touchdown pass in the third quarter and totaling 51 yards passing and 31 yards rushing in the contest before exiting in the third … became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Stanford since John Paye in 1983 … played for head coach Paul Doherty at Folsom High School ... a four-star recruit … charted as the No. 239 overall prospect by ESPN.com ... consensus top-25 dual-threat quarterback, ranked No. 6 by ESPN.com, No. 17 by Rivals.com and No. 22 by 247Sports.com ... charted as the No. 23 prospect in California by ESPN.com, No. 39 by Rivals.com and No. 53 by 247Sports.com ... participated in the 2021 Polynesian Bowl ... a 2019 all-league honorable mention selection after guided the squad to the conference title ... completed 61-of-105 passes for 882 yards and four TDs in 2019 … carried 31 times for 258 yards and four scores in 2019 ... 2020 season postponed due to COVID-19 global pandemic ... also competed in track & field and basketball.

PERSONAL: Son of Alana and Saul Patu ... father was a four-year starting defensive end (1997-98-99-2000) at the University of Oregon and earned All-Pac-10 honors each year before experiencing NFL action with the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans in 2001 and 2002 prior to a six-season Arena Football League career (2003-04-05-06-07-08) with the Colorado Crush in which he registered 125 tackles, 14.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles, 196 rushing yards, nine rushing TDs and one receiving score ... mother earned two letters (1998-99) with the softball program at Oregon, helping the Ducks to consecutive 40-win seasons and NCAA Regional appearances ... brother Orin played four seasons (2019-20-21-22) of football at California before transferring to Arizona as a graduate in 2023 and appearing in three games while helping the Wildcats to a 10-3 mark and 38-24 victory against Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl ... cousin, Naomi Mulitauaopele, played basketball at Stanford before being selected in the first round as the 12th overall pick of the 2000 WNBA Draft by the Utah Starzz.