Gardner-Webb University Athletics

Returning starter up front who is projected to begin the 2017 season as the starter at nose guard … Big, powerful lineman who has also started in the past at end … Has good quickness for his size … Has 12 career starts to his credit over the past three seasons … Has made 66 total stops and 7.0 tackles for loss during his time in the trenches at Gardner-Webb.

2016 at Gardner-Webb: Played in eight games and made three starts … Collected 19 total tackles (10 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and one sack … Had one forced fumble and made two fumble recoveries … Produced three quarterback hurries and batted down one pass … Had a season-high five tackles (four solo) and a sack vs. Benedict (10/1) … Also batted down a pass, recovered a fumble and forced a fumble in that game … Made four stops and recovered a fumble vs. No. 15 Citadel (10/15) … Registered four total tackles vs. No. 15 Coastal Carolina (10/15) … Had three stops and a quarterback hurry vs. Monmouth (11/19). 2015 at Gardner-Webb: Saw action in seven games and made four starts at end … Finished with 18 total tackles (five solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery … Also broke up a pass … Had two tackles, a tackle for loss and a safety in the season opener at South Alabama (9/5) … Also recovered a fumble in that game … Made a season-high five stops at Wofford (9/26) … Made four tackles vs. Elon (9/12) and Virginia Union (9/19) … Broke up a pass vs. Elon. 2014 at GWU: Played in 10 games and started the final five games of the season at strongside defensive end … Finished with 29 total tackles (13 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Added four quarterback pressures … Had a season-high seven tackles (four solo), three quarterback pressures and a tackle for loss vs. No. 2 Coastal Carolina (11/1) … Made six hits (three solo) the following week at Charleston Southern (11/8) … Made four stops vs. Presbyterian (11/15) and three stops at Monmouth (11/22) … Had a half tackle for loss vs. the Hawks … Made two solo tackles at Wake Forest (9/6) and had a sack vs. Virginia-Lynchburg (9/13).

High School: Played at West Mecklenburg (N.C.) High under Coach Jeff Caldwell … Helped Hawks to a 9-3 record and a 5-2 conference mark in 2013 … A three-time All-Conference choice and two-year starter … Keyed a defense that posted seven games with less than 10 points allowed as a senior … Hawks’ defense allowed just 12.5 points per game in 2013 … Earned first-team All-Mega 8 Conference honors as a senior … Recorded 12.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks as a senior … Also a standout on the offensive line … Earned first-team All-Conference honors in 2012 … Had 73 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks and two pass break ups as a junior … Chose Gardner-Webb over James Madison, Western Carolina and South Carolina State … Also recruited by Elon, Wake Forest and Virginia.