Hawk-Item – – Joined Iowa program for 2020 as a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois . . . ranked second in the MAC and tied for 16th nationally with three forced fumbles in 2019.
2020 – – Started all eight games at tackle, recording 13 solo tackles and eight assists, with 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack . . . started at right defensive tackle in 24-20 loss at Purdue, recording two assisted tackles . . . started at right defensive tackle in 21-20 loss to Northwestern . . . seven tackles vs. Northwestern, including four solo stops and three assists, including a shared tackle for loss . . . started at defensive tackle in 49-7 win over Michigan State as defense allowed 59 rushing yards and 286 yards total offense . . . four tackles vs. MSU, including three solo stops and one assist, with one tackle for loss and one QB pressure . . . started at defensive tackle in 35-7 win at Minnesota . . . recorded three solo tackles at Minnesota . . . started at defensive tackle in 41-21 win at Penn State as defense allowed just 62 net rushing yards . . . one solo tackle at PSU, which was a QB sack . . . saw action at defensive tackle in 26-20 win over Nebraska, recording one assisted tackle . . . started at defensive tackle in 35-21 win at Illinois , recording one assisted tackle . . . started at defensive tackle in 28-7 win over #25 Wisconsin as defense allowed 56 net rushing yards and 225 yards total offense . . . two solo tackles vs. the Badgers, including a solo tackle for loss.
2019 Honors – – Named honorable mention All-America from Pro Football Focus . . . earned first-team all-conference by PFF . . . named second-team All-MAC by league coaches and . . . selected NIU Defensive Player of the Year by coaching staff . . . one of four permanent team captains . . . earned honorable mention honors on PFF Midseason All-America team . . . 2019 – – Led NIU in tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (3.0) . . . posted 1.5 tackles for loss with one sack and three tackles in win over Western Michigan . . . season-high six tackles to earn MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors at Toledo . . . recorded 1.5 tackles for loss at Toledo, with one sack and forced third fumble of the season . . . helped limit Akron to seven first downs and 145 yards total offense in NIU’s first shutout since 2012 . . . contributed 1.5 tackles for loss and three tackles as NIU held Miami to 71 rushing yards . . . credited with five tackles vs. Ball State, with one sack and a forced fumble . . . totaled four tackles, including 1.5 for loss, at Vanderbilt . . . forced a fumble and recorded two tackles at Nebraska . . . collected four tackles, with 1.5 tackles for loss, vs. Illinois State . . . did not play vs. Eastern Michigan due to injury.
2018 Honors – – Named third-team All-MAC at defensive tackle . . . 2018 – – Ranked third on the team in sacks and fourth in tackles for loss . . . collected all sacks and TFLs in the second half of the regular season . . . started the last five games season . . . responded with a dominating performance vs. Toledo, with career-high 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss among seven total tackles . . . recorded three solo tackles in MAC Championship win over Buffalo . . . contributed one sack, a tackle for loss and four solo stops at Western Michigan . . . posted 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss at Akron . . . recorded five solo stops at BYU, with one tackle for loss as defense limited the Cougars to two field goals . . . lone tackle vs. Ohio resulted in first career sack and tackle for loss . . . registered two tackles vs. Florida State, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, and UAB . . . blocked field goal vs. Utah . . . recorded at least one tackle in all but one game.
2017 – – Started every game at defensive tackle . . . played an important role occupying blockers for NIU defense that tied for second in the nation with 43 total sacks . . . recorded eight total tackles, including six solo stops and two assists . . . began the season with a tackle in three straight games vs. Boston College, Eastern Illinois, and Nebraska . . . collected one tackle in four straight games beginning with Eastern Michigan . . . posted one tackle for loss against Western Michigan.
2016 – – Redshirted.
High school honors – – Earned all-state recognition from the IHSFCA during his senior season . . . named first team All-Western Illinois as an offensive and defensive lineman in back-to-back seasons as a junior and senior . . . Career – – Recorded 249 tackles and eight forced fumbles during his prep career . . . set school record with 30 career starts.
Personal – – Born 3/8/98 in Galesburg, Illinois . . . kinesiology major . . . parents are Judith and Chris Breitbach and Paul Heflin . . . high school coach was Chuck Milem.
Career Bests
Tackles: 7, twice, last vs. Toledo, 11/7/18
Solo: 5, twice, last vs. BYU, 10/27/18
Assists: 3, three times, last vs. Vanderbilt, 9/28/19
Tackles for Loss: 3.5 vs. Toledo, 11/7/18
QB Sacks: 2.5 vs. Toledo, 11/7/18
Forced Fumble: 1, three times, last vs. Toledo, 11/13/19