Gardner-Webb University Athletics

Physical, experienced inside linebacker who will start for the third season in a row … All-Big South Conference candidate as a senior ... Has quietly emerged as one of the team’s top tacklers during each of the last two seasons … One of the Big South Conference’s most ferocious hitters … Transitioned well from an outside position to the inside in Gardner-Webb’s 3-4 scheme last season.

2013 at Gardner-Webb: Started 12 games at linebacker … Earned third-team All-Big South Conference honors from College Sports Madness … Ranked seventh on the team with 42 total tackles (19 solo) … Added a tackle for loss, one forced fumble and a pass break up … Made a season-high six stops at No. 6 Coastal Carolina (10/12), with All-Big South running mates Chad Geter and Tanner Burch sidelined with injuries … Had four stops in the win over No. 11 Richmond (9/14), including a half tackle for loss … Had five stops, a pass break up and a half tackle for loss vs. Liberty (10/26) … Registered a season-high four solo stops and forced a fumble at VMI (11/9) … Had three solo tackles in the win over No. 8 Wofford (9/21) … Also had three solos tops at Presbyterian (11/23) in the season finale. 2012 at GWU: Played in 10 games and made nine starts … Finished second on the team with 53 total tackles (27 solo), both career-high numbers … Collected 3.5 tackles for loss, broke up one pass and recovered a fumble … Had a career-high 13 total stops (seven solo) in a gritty effort against Presbyterian (11/17) in the season finale … Helped the defense pitch a shutout until early in the fourth quarter of that game … Had 10 tackles (four solo) vs. No. 10 Wofford in the season opener (9/1) … Made seven stops at Pittsburgh (9/22) … Had five tackles at Liberty (10/6) and at Charleston Southern (11/10) … Had tackles for loss against Wofford, Pittsburgh, Liberty, Charleston Southern and Presbyterian. 2011 at GWU: Played in all 11 games … Saw action at weakside linebacker and on special teams … Finished the season with 19 total tackles (five solo) … Collected 1.5 tackles for loss (minus-3 yards) … Had a season-high six hits at Ohio (9/10) … Made three stops against Wake Forest (9/17), Samford (10/1) and Liberty (10/8).

High School: Played one postgraduate season at Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy under Coach Otis Yelverton … Part of a squad that sent 12 players to Division I football following the season ... Part of a defense that posted four shutouts in its first five games of the season ... Played high school football at Bartlett-Yancey (N.C.) High under Coach Dennis Bannick … An All-Triad 3A Conference selection as a senior … Played both running back and linebacker for the Buccaneers ... Chose Gardner-Webb over Middle Tennessee State ... Also recruited by Wisconsin.