Hawk Item – – One of seven true freshmen to see action in 2008.
2011 – – Saw action in 12 games, with three starts . . . recorded eight catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns . . . started at tight end in 34-7 opening win over Tennessee Tech, recording two receptions for 25 yards . . . started at tight end in triple-overtime loss at Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . started at tight end in 31-27 win over Pittsburgh as offense gained 475 yards total offense . . . collected two receptions for 42 yards vs. Pitt . . . saw action in 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe, but had no statistics as offense gained 453 yards total offense . . . saw action in 13-3 loss at Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 41-31 win over Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-24 win over Indiana . . . had one reception for one yard vs. Hoosiers for first career touchdown . . . saw action in 22-21 loss at Minnesota, recording one reception for four yards . . . saw action in 24-16 win over 13th-ranked Michigan . . . one reception for a 1-yard touchdown vs. Wolverines, along with one assisted tackle on special teams . . . saw action in 37-21 loss to Michigan State, recording one solo tackle on special teams . . . saw action in 31-21 win at Purdue as offense gained 408 yards total offense . . . had no receptions, but recorded two solo tackles on special teams . . . saw action in 20-7 loss at Nebraska . . . one reception for 22 yards at Nebraska led directly to Iowa touchdown . . . did not see action in Insight Bowl due to injury.
2010 Honors – – Honorable mention tight end Performer of the Week vs. Michigan State by College Football Performance Awards . . . 2010 – – saw action in all 13 games, recording nine receptions for 154 yards and collecting four tackles on special teams . . . saw action in 37-7 opening win over Eastern Illinois as offense gained 435 yards total offense . . . three receptions for 57 yards, including 35-yard catch on opening drive that led to first score of the game . . . saw action in 35-7 win over Iowa State as offense gained 479 yards total offense, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 34-27 loss at Arizona, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-0 win over Ball State as offense gained 562 yards total offense, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 38-28 win at Michigan, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 31-30 loss to Wisconsin, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State . . . had career-best 80 receiving yards while matching career-high with three receptions vs. MSU . . . saw action in 18-13 win at Indiana, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 21-17 loss at Northwestern . . . one pass reception for 12 yards vs. Wildcats and one solo tackle . . . saw action in 20-17 loss to Ohio State, gaining five yards on two pass receptions . . . saw action in 27-24 loss at Minnesota, recording two solo tackles on special teams . . . saw action in 27-24 Insight Bowl win over 12th-ranked Missouri, recording one solo tackle.
2009 – – Saw action in eight games . . . saw action in 17-16 win over Northern Iowa, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 35-3 win at Iowa State at offense gained 426 yards total offense, collecting first career pass reception for three yards . . . saw action in 27-17 win over Arizona, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 24-21 win over Arkansas State as offense gained 420 yards total offense, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 42-24 win over Indiana as offense gained 480 yards total offense, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 17-10 loss to Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 27-24 overtime loss at Ohio State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 12-0 win over Minnesota, recording one solo tackle on special teams.
2008 – – Saw action in 46-3 opening win over Maine, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 245 yards and gained 457 yards total offense . . . saw action in 42-0 win over Florida International, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 241 yards and gained 512 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 17-5 win over Iowa State . . . did not see action in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh . . . did not see action in 22-17 loss to Northwestern . . . did not see action in 16-13 loss at Michigan State . . . saw action in 45-9 win at Indiana, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 227 yards and gained 422 yards total offense . . . saw action in 38-16 win over Wisconsin as offense gained 254 rushing yards, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 27-24 loss at Illinois, but had no statistics . . . did not see action in 24-23 win over third ranked Penn State . . . did not see action in 22-17 win over Purdue . . . saw action in 55-0 win at Minnesota, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 222 yards and gained 483 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 31-10 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina.
High school honors – – IHSFCA first team all-state, Chicago Tribune first team all-state, Champaign News Gazette first team all-state and rivals.com first team all-state as a senior… central Illinois/Peoria Regional Player of the Year as a senior… first team all-area as a sophomore… first team all-conference as a junior… Career – – Collected 110 tackles as a senior, including 14.5 tackles for loss… tallied three interceptions… caught 21 passes for 578 yards and six touchdowns (27.5 yards per catch) as a tight end his senior year… also lettered three times in track… three-year member of the academic honor roll.
Personal – – Born 12/29/89. . . Communications Studies major . . . parents are Lisa and Scott. . . high school coach: Pat Ryan.
Career Receiving Bests
Catches: 3, twice, last vs. Mich. State, 10/30/10
Yards: 80 vs. Mich. State, 10/30/10
Touchdowns: 1 vs. Indiana, 10/22/11
Long: 56 vs. Mich. State, 10/30/10