2018 OUTLOOK
Will be looked at as one of the leaders of Mizzou’s defense during his redshirt senior season … Enters the year listed at No. 1 on the team’s initial fall depth chart at the strongside LB position, a spot he occupied for much of last season … Has great instincts to go along with supreme athleticism and is a model student-athlete off the field, representing Mizzou and the SEC as one of three student-athletes at the 2018 NCAA Convention ... Also attended the 2018 SEC Spring Meetings in Destin this past May to represent conference student-athletes in various meetings ... Earned his undergraduate degree from Mizzou this May, and will be wearing the prestigious SEC Graduate Patch this season, as he plays while pursuing his master's in business administration degree.
2017 SEASON
Took over the starting role at the strongside position in game number five, and never relinquished the spot, starting each of the last nine games there ... Finished the year with a career-best 42 tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss ... Also credited with four pass break-ups (ranking as second-most on the team) and a pair of quarterback pressures as well ... Made arguably one of the single biggest defensive plays of the year in MU’s bowl bid-clinching win at Vanderbilt (11/18), when he diagnosed and masterfully jumped an out route and intercepted the pass, then raced the other way 42 yards for his first career pick six ... That play broke the game open in the second quarter, as it gave Mizzou a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and spurred the Tigers on to their 45-17 win that was their sixth of the season ... Made a season-best seven tackles at Kentucky (10/7) and followed with five more the next week at Georgia (10/14) ... Made some big plays in Mizzou’s bowl game against Texas, when he came up with five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, in the Texas Bowl.
2016 SEASON
Became an impact player on the defensive side of the ball, earning four starts late in the season while playing in all 12 games … Totaled 37 tackles (26 solo) with 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a pass break-up … Recorded two tackles in Mizzou’s season-opening matchup against West Virginia (9/3) … Recorded one tackle in Mizzou’s win over Eastern Michigan (9/10) … Tallied a season-high three tackles in Mizzou’s SEC opener against Georgia (9/17) ... Posted a career-high five tackles (two solo) against Delaware State (9/23), also forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble and pitching in a pass break-up … Had a pair of tackles at LSU (10/1) … Missed the first half of the Florida game (10/15) after a targeting penalty in the second half at LSU ... Recorded four tackles against Middle Tennessee (10/22) ... Contributed on defense against Kentucky (10/29) with four tackles, including a one-yard sack, the first of his collegiate career … Earned his first career start at South Carolina (11/5) after his breakout performance against Kentucky … Set a new career- and season-high in tackles with 11 (nine solo) against South Carolina, adding another sack to his season stat line … Posted two tackles for a loss in the same game ... … Tallied three tackles (all solo) against Vanderbilt (11/12) … recorded a tackle against both Tennessee (11/19) and Arkansas (11/25).
2015 SEASON
Up-and-coming linebacker that saw increased playing time in his redshirt freshman season, tallying five tackles while playing in 11 games, primarily on special teams … Had a career-high two tackles at Vanderbilt (Oct. 24) and also picked up tackles against SEMO (Sept. 5), Mississippi State (Nov. 5) and Florida (Oct. 10).
2014 SEASON
Redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL
Smart, athletic defender who the Mizzou coaching staff feels has a high ceiling … first team all-state linebacker as a senior in 2013, according to the Associated Press and IndyPreps … one of the top linebacker prospects in the country who was ranked by ESPN as the No. 16 outside linebacker prospect in the nation, and as the No. 3 player overall in the state of Indiana at any position ... was a four-year contributor for Lawrence Central High School under Coach Jed Richman, and was part of a state title team as a junior in 2012 ... had 81 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a junior, while racking up 85 stops, a pair of sacks and two forced fumbles in 2011 ... his Bears team also reached the state championship semi-finals during his freshman season of 2010 ... was a Class 6A First Team All-State linebacker selection by the Associated Press ... known as a versatile talent who could play on the outside, and has the frame to grow into an inside linebacker down the road ... has great instincts and plays with an impressive combination of sheer talent and discipline that allows him to make plays from sideline-to-sideline ... athleticism, range and movement skills are considerable and he shows great first step quickness and flows fast to the ball, while also displaying a good understanding of pass drop concepts.
PERSONAL
Had offers from numerous schools, and chose Mizzou over Michigan State, Oregon, Indiana, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, California, Iowa, Illinois, Penn State and North Carolina State, among many others ... older brother, Kenneth, plays football at Ball State ... Is working toward his MBA degree in Business Administration.
