Hawk-Item – – Ranked seventh in the Big Ten in KO returns (23.8) and 10th in tackles per game (7.4) in 2011 . . . did not compete during 2009 season due to pre-season injury . . . one of 11 true freshmen to see action in 2007.
2011 – – Saw action in 12 games, with 11 starts, recording 44 solo tackles and 45 assists . . . also had three tackles for loss and one QB sack . . . recorded two pass break-ups, one caused fumble and one recovered fumble . . . led team in KO returns, averaging 23.8 yards on 30 returns . . . saw action in 34-7 opening win over Tennessee Tech . . . had career-best eight tackles in opening game, including four solo stops and a shared tackle for loss . . . also had a 38-yard KO return to start the game . . . did not see action in triple-overtime loss at Iowa State due to illness . . . started at strong safety in 31-27 win over Pittsburgh for first career start . . . matched career-high with eight tackles vs. Pitt, including five solo stops, two tackles for loss, one QB sack and a forced fumble . . . also recorded four KO returns for 74 yards, with a long of 28 yards . . . started at strong safety in 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe, recording one solo tackle and one assist as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . also averaged 24 yards on three KO returns vs. ULM, with a long of 28 yards . . . started at strong safety in 13-3 loss at Penn State . . . matched career-high with eight tackles at PSU, along with one pass break-up . . . also had two KO returns for 40 yards . . . started at strong safety in 41-31 win over Northwestern . . . matched career best with eight tackles vs. Northwestern, including four solo stops . . . also had a pass break-up and a QB pressure, along with three KO returns for 75 yards . . . started at strong safety in 45-24 win over Indiana . . . recorded three solo stops and three assists vs. Hoosiers, while averaging 38.3 yards on three KO returns, including a career-long of 62 yards . . . started at strong safety in 22-21 loss at Minnesota . . . recorded five tackles, including two solo stops, at Minnesota, along with first fumble recovery of career, that led to an Iowa touchdowns . . . also had three KO returns for 47 yards . . . started at strong safety in 24-16 win over 13th-ranked Michigan as defense allowed just 323 yards total offense . . . career-high 15 tackles in win over Wolverines, including seven solo tackles . . . also had one KO return for 23 yards . . . started at strong safety in 37-21 loss to Michigan State . . . recorded four solo tackles and one assist vs. MSU . . . career-best five KO returns for 132 yards vs. MSU, including a long of 61 yards . . . started at strong safety in 31-21 win at Purdue as defense allowed just 282 yards total offense . . . recorded four solo tackles and one assist at Purdue, along with two KO returns for 42 yards . . . started at strong safety in 20-7 loss at Nebraska . . . recorded 13 tackles at Nebraska, including four solo tackles and a shared tackle for loss . . . started at strong safety in Insight Bowl loss to Oklahoma, recording four solo tackles and two assists as defense allowed just 275 yards total offense . . . also had three KO returns for 55 yards.
2010 – – Saw action in eight games, recording four tackles . . . saw action in 37-7 opening win over Eastern Illinois, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 157 yards total offense . . . saw action in 35-7 win over Iowa State, recording one solo tackle and one assist . . . saw action in 34-27 loss at Arizona, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-0 win over Ball State, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 112 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 24-3 win over Penn State due to injury. . . did not see action in 38-28 win at Michigan due to injury . . . did not see action in 31-30 loss to Wisconsin due to injury . . . did not see action in 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State due to injury . . . returned to action in 18-13 win at Indiana, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 21-17 loss at Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 20-17 loss to Ohio State, but had no statistics . . . did not see action in 27-24 loss at Minnesota . . . saw action in 27-24 Insight Bowl win over 12th-ranked Missouri, recording one solo tackle.
2009 – – Listed as first team cornerback following spring practice . . . suffered ankle injury during pre-season practice and used season to redshirt.
2008 – – Listed as second team right cornerback following spring practice . . . did not see action in opening win over Maine due to injury . . . saw first action of the season in 42-0 win over Florida International, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 56 rushing yards and 218 yards total offense . . . saw action in 17-5 win over Iowa State, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 73 rushing yards . . . saw action in 21-20 loss at Pittsburgh, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 22-17 loss to Northwestern, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 16-13 loss at Michigan State as defense held second leading rusher in the nation to 91 net rushing yards . . . recorded first career pass interception and nine yard return at MSU, which led to Iowa touchdown . . . saw action in 45-9 win at Indiana, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 95 rushing yards and 286 yards total offense . . . saw action in 38-16 win over Wisconsin, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 27-24 loss at Illinois as defense allowed just 60 net rushing yards . . . recorded one solo tackle, one assist and one QB pressure at Illinois . . . saw action in 24-23 win over third-ranked Penn State, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 289 yards total offense . . . saw action in 22-17 win over Purdue as defense allowed just 86 net rushing yards . . . recorded one solo tackle and one assist vs. Purdue . . . saw action in 55-0 win at Minnesota as defense allowed just seven rushing yards and 134 yards total offense in posting second shutout of the season . . . recorded one solo tackle and one assist at Minnesota . . .saw action in 31-10 Outback Bowl win over South Carolina, but had no statistics.
2007 – – Saw action in opening win over Northern Illinois, but had no statistics as defense allowed just 21 rushing yards and 235 yards total offense . . . saw action in home win over Syracuse, collecting one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 24 rushing yards and 103 yards total offense . . . saw action on special teams in loss at Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in loss at Wisconsin, recording two solo tackles . . . saw action in loss to Indiana, recording two solo tackles . . . saw action in loss at Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in win over 18th-ranked Illinois, but had no statistics . . . saw action in loss at Purdue, recording one assisted tackle and one kickoff return for 14 yards . . . saw action in double OT win over Michigan State, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in win at Northwestern, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just three points, seven rushing yards and 124 yards total offense in the second half . . . saw action in win over Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action in loss to Western Michigan, recording one solo tackle and one kickoff return for 13 yards.
High school honors – – Parade all-American . . . played in the East Meets West All-American Game . . . two-time Elite and first team all-state . . . two-time first team all-conference . . . second team all-conference and all-state as a sophomore . . . team captain . . . Career – – amassed 208 career tackles with 11 interceptions (two for TD) and five fumble recoveries . . . had 91 tackles with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a senior . . . recorded 75 tackles and four interceptions as a junior . . . also played running back and punter . . . rushed for 1,639 yards on 158 career attempts, with 20 touchdowns . . . held career punting average of 39 yards (14 punts for 546 yards) . . . also recorded 1,579 career kick return yards, with three touchdowns.
Personal – – Born 5/31/89 . . . Interdepartmental major . . . mother is Felicia Bernstine . . . one of two players from Des Moines on Iowa roster. . . high school coach was Tom Mihalovich.
Career Defensive Bests
Tackles: 15 vs. Michigan, 11/05/11
Solos: 7 vs. Michigan, 11/05/11
Assists: 9 at Nebraska, 11/25/11
Tackles for Loss: 2 vs. Pittsburgh, 9/17/11
QB Sacks: 1 vs. Pittsburgh, 9/17/11
Interception: 1 at Michigan State, 10/04/08
PBU: 1, three times, last vs. Northwestern, 10/15/11
Rec. Fumble: 1 at Minnesota, 10/29/11
Career KO Return Bests
Number: 5 vs. Michigan State, 11/12/11
Yards: 132 vs. Michigan State, 11/12/11
Long: 62 vs. Indiana, 10/22/11