TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Oakland Raiders in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, April 27, 2019.
2019: Relentless defensive end who appeared in all 16 contests and made 10 starts in his rookie campaign...Tallied 46 tackles (35 solo), including 16 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and four passes defensed...Finished second in the NFL among rookies with 10 sacks...Became only the second player in franchise history to record double-digit sacks as a rookie...Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 11 after recording a Raiders rookie record four sacks, a mark that is tied for second-most in NFL history among rookie single-game sack leaders...Became only the fifth rookie since 2000 to record double-digit sacks and at least four forced fumbles in their rookie season...Is just the second Raider in franchise history to record at least 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in a single season...Just the fifth player drafted in the third round or later to record double-digit sacks as a rookie since sacks became an official state in 1982...(9/9) vs. Den.: Made his NFL debut and recorded five tackles (two) as a rotational player on the defensive line...Also appeared on special teams...(9/15) vs. KC: Saw action on both defense and special teams, recording two tackles (one)...(9/22) at Min.: Appeared primarily on special teams and recorded one stop...(9/29) at Ind.: Recorded his first career forced fumble, which was recovered by S Karl Joseph...Also added two tackles and a career-high two passes defensed...(10/6) vs. Chi.: Made his first career NFL start at defensive end and recorded his first career sack by taking down QB Chase Daniel for a loss of five yards...(10/20) at GB: Recorded his second sack of the season, taking down QB Aaron Rodgers for a loss of eight...Recorded a sack in back-to-back weeks for the first time in his career...(10/27) at Hou.: Finished with a career-high six tackles, including two for a loss, and one forced fumble... (11/3) vs. Det.: Started his second contest of the season and recorded two tackles (one)...(11/7) vs. LAC: Started consecutive contests for the first time in his career and finished with three tackles (one), a half-sack and one pass defensed...Combined with DE Clelin Ferrell to take down QB Phillip Rivers for a loss of eight yards on the Chargers' opening possession...(11/17) vs. Cin.: Recorded his first career multi-sack game with 4.0 sacks, tied for the second-most sacks in NFL history by a rookie in a single game and the most by a rookie in a single game on the season...Surpassed DE Greg Townsend's franchise rookie record of 3.0 sacks in a single contest...Finished with five tackles (four), a career-high four sacks and one forced fumble...Became the second rookie in franchise history to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors...(11/24) at NYJ: Recorded a sack of QB Sam Darnold...Finished with four tackles (three), including two for a loss, and one sack...(12/1) at KC: Registered five tackles (four), including two for loss...(12/8) vs. Ten.: Recorded two tackles, including one for loss...(12/15) vs. Jac.: Recorded a sack by taking down QB Gardner Minshew for a loss of four yards...(12/22) at LAC: Notched two tackles, including one for loss...(12/29) at Den.: Finished with five tackles (four), 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed and one forced fumble...Combined with DT Johnathan Hankins to take down QB Drew Lock for a loss of nine yards... Recorded a strip-sack of QB Drew Lock...Surpassed LB Aaron Wallace for second-most sacks (10) by a rookie in franchise history...Became the first rookie since DE Joey Bosa (2016) with 10-plus sacks and 15-plus tackles for loss (16) in a single season.
COLLEGE: Two-year starter at Eastern Michigan who spent four years (2015-18) with the Eagles and appeared in 37 contests total with 24 starts...Recorded 162 tackles (73 solo), including 41 for loss, 20 sacks, one INT returned for a TD, four passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries, including one returned for a TD...Finished his career ranking second in school history in both tackles for loss and sacks...Became just the third defensive player in school history to earn All-MAC First Team honors in consecutive seasons (2017-18)...Just the fourth Eagle in school history to collect multiple first-team All-MAC selections in their career... In 2018, started all 12 games for the Eagles, compiling 70 tackles (31), including 19 for loss, 7.5 sacks, one INT returned for a TD, three passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...Ranked 10th in the nation in forced fumbles per game (.33) and seventh in tackles for loss per game (1.6), while his .68 sacks per game ranked fifth in the MAC...In 2017, earned his first All-MAC First Team selection and was named EMU's Team MVP, the John E. Borowiec Most Valuable Defensive Player and took home the Harold E. Sponberg Down Lineman Award...Started all 12 games for the first time in his collegiate career and led the Eagles with 11 sacks on the campaign, adding 57 total stops, including 16.5 for loss, one pass defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumbles recoveries with one returned for a TD...In 2016, saw his first action with the Eagles, appearing in all 13 contests as a rotational player on the defensive line...Totaled 35 stops on the year, including 5.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery... Redshirted as a freshman in 2015 and earned Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors.
PERSONAL: Attended Heritage (Texas) High School...Ranked as a two-star recruit by 247Sports and Scout.com...Named All-Area and All-District his senior year in 2014 after posting 62 tackles, including 12 for loss, six sacks, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked punt...Named second-team All-District as a junior in 2013...Also played varsity basketball...Earned his degree in communications.
ADDITIONAL STATISTICS: Special teams tackles – 1 in 2019.
SINGLE-GAME HIGHS: TACKLES: Total – 6, 10/27/19 at Hou. Solo – 6, 10/27/19 at Hou. Sacks – 4, 11/17/19 vs. Cin. Forced fumbles – 1, four times; last: 12/29/19 at Den. Passes defensed – 2, 9/29/19 at Ind.
