Hawk Item – – One of eight true freshmen to see action in 2019, but played in just one game and used redshirt season . . . joined team as a walk-on in fall, 2019.
2022 – – Listed as second team right tackle following spring practice . . . saw action in 12 games . . . started at left guard in 7-3 opening win over South Dakota State . . . started at left guard in 10-7 loss to Iowa State . . . started at left guard in 17-0 win over Nevada as offense gained 162 net rushing yards . . . started at left guard in 27-10 win at Rutgers . . . started at left guard in 27-14 loss to #4 Michigan . . . did not see action in 9-6 loss at Illinois due to injury . . . saw action at left guard in 54-10 loss at #2 Ohio State . . . saw action in 33-13 win over Northwestern as offense rushed for 178 net yards and gained 398 yards total offense . . . saw action in 24-3 win at Purdue as offense gained 184 net rushing yards and gained 376 yards total offense . . . saw action in 24-10 win over Wisconsin . . . started at right guard and played every offensive down in 13-10 win at Minnesota . . . started at right guard in 24-17 loss to Nebraska . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky.
2021 – – Started at right tackle in 34-6 win over #17 Indiana for first career start . . . started at right tackle in 27-17 win at #9 Iowa State . . . started at right tackle in 30-7 win over Kent State as offense rushed for 206 yards and gained 418 yards total offense . . . started at right tackle in 24-14 win over Colorado State . . . started at right tackle in 51-14 win at Maryland as offense gained 428 yards total offense . . . started at left tackle in 23-20 win over #4 Penn State . . . started at left tackle in 24-7 loss to Purdue . . . saw action in 27-7 loss at Wisconsin . . . saw action in 17-12 win at Northwestern as offense gained 185 net rushing yards . . . started at right tackle and played every offensive down in 27-22 win over Minnesota . . . started at right tackle in 33-23 win over Illinois . . . saw action in 28-21 win at Nebraska as offense gained 186 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 42-3 loss to #2 Michigan . . . saw action in 20-17 Citrus Bowl loss to #22 Kentucky as offense rushed for 173 yards and gained 384 yards total offense.
2020 – – Saw action on special teams in 24-20 loss at Purdue . . . saw action on special teams in 21-20 loss to Northwestern . . . saw action in 49-7 win over Michigan State as offense rushed for 226 yards and gained 405 yards total offense . . . saw action in 35-7 win at Minnesota as offense rushed for 235 yards . . . saw action on special teams in 41-21 win at Penn State . . . saw action in 26-20 win over Nebraska . . . saw action in 35-21 win at Illinois as offense gained 424 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 28-7 win over #25 Wisconsin.
2019 – – Saw first action of career in 48-3 win over Middle Tennessee as offense gained 466 yards total offense . . . did not see any further game action.
High school honors – – Earned first-team all-state honors as a senior . . . honorable mention all-state as a junior . . . first-team all-district as a junior and senior . . . Career – – Three-year football letterman as defensive end and tight end . . . helped prep team post three year record of 32-4, including perfect 13-0 mark as a sophomore . . . prep team won state title as a sophomore, finished second as a junior and reached state playoffs as a senior . . . recorded 25 tackles on defense and had 73 receiving yards as a senior . . . 26.5 tackles and 62 receiving yards as a junior . . . team captain as a senior . . . also lettered in basketball and track.
Personal – – Born 6/10/2000 . . . sport and recreation management major . . . earned academic all-conference honors two years . . . parents are Stephanie and Mike DeJong . . . one of two players from Pella on the Iowa roster . . . high school coach was Jay McKinstrey.