2022:
- Two tackles vs. Hawai'i (11/26/22)
- One tackle at Utah State (11/19/22)
- One tackle at San Diego State (11/12/22)
- One tackle vs. Nevada (10/29/22)
- One tackle at Fresno State (10/15/22)
- Started and had two tackles vs. WMU (9/24/22)
- Started and had two tackles vs. Portland St. (9/1/22)
2021:
- Finished the season with 28 tackles including 4.5 for loss and a sack
- Had four tackles with 1.0 for loss against UNLV (10/21)
- Ended with three tackles against Colorado State (10/9)
- Had a fumble recovery against Hawaii (9/18)
- Career-high six tackles including 1.5 for loss against Hawaii (9/18)
2020:
- Appeared in six games
- Split time between linebacker and as a defensive end
- Made three tackles on the year
- Two tackles in the UNLV win (11/14) and one against Nevada (12/11)
- Recovered a fumble against San Diego State (11/6).
2019:
- Started all 12 games
- Tied for second on the team with 2.0 quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles
- One of four Spartans to be credited with a forced fumble and have a fumble recovery during the season
- Tied for fourth on the squad with two interceptions
- Most productive game came in the New Mexico win (10/4) with six tackles, a pass interception on the Lobos' final offensive play of the game, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the same play
- Credited with his season total of 2.0 quarterback sacks and matched his season-high six tackles in the Army West Point triumph (10/26)
- Had 1.5 tackles for loss and his second interception of the season at Nevada (10/12)
- 50 tackles in 2019 with a season-high six stops in five games.
2018:
- Played in four of the first six games as a reserve linebacker and special teams player
- Was not credited with any tackles during the season
- Retained his second season of athletics eligibility.
2017:
- Played in the final 12 games of the season as a reserve linebacker and special teams contributor
- His one tackle for the season came on a third-down running play at Texas (9/9)
HIGH SCHOOL: A two-time, first-team All-Tri County Athletic League pick for DeAnza High (Coach Tyree Reed) in El Sobrante, Calif. ... Played linebacker, tight end, wide receiver and running back and was used as a long snapper in one game his senior season ... Two-sport letterwinner played on the basketball team as a sophomore ... Honor roll student ... Belonged to the DeAnza chess club and the Black Student Union.
MORE ON RICO: A communication studies major ... Has a rich baritone voice ... Interested in a broadcasting career ... Enjoys writing poetry and rap lyrics ... Likes action movies and lists "Friday Night Lights," "When the Game Stands Tall" and the "Batman" series as his favorites ... The late Eldridge Tolefree, his dad, was a Bay Area blues singer known as "Big Cat" Tolefree and served a back-up vocalist for musical icons Ray Charles, Gladys Knight and Luther Vandross ... Rico is a Berkeley, Calif., native ... Signed a National Letter-of-Intent in February 2017... Pronounces his last name as Toll-free.
CAREER STATISTICS
| DEFENSE | G/S | UT | AT | TOTAL | TFL/Yds. | SK | FF | FR | INT | DEF |
| 2017...FR | 12/0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0/0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018...Redshirt | 4/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0/0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019...SO | 12/12 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 2.5/11 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020...JR | 6/0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.0/0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021...SR | 12/0 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 4.5/13 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| CAREER | 46/12 | 43 | 39 | 82 | 7/24 | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |