TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Las Vegas Raiders in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2024 Draft, April 27, 2024.
AT A GLANCE
• Appeared in 14 games with one start during his rookie season, leading the team with nine tackles on special teams while recording four tackles on defense.
• Played in 41 career games with 27 starts over five seasons at Ohio State, recording 268 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Led the Buckeyes in total tackles (120) and tackles for loss (12) in 2022, while also leading the Big Ten in solo tackles (77) and earning Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl after setting a bowl-record and career-high of 17 tackles.
2024: Appeared in 14 games with one start and recorded four tackles on defense…Led the team with nine tackles on special teams…(9/22) vs. Car.: Recorded two tackles on special teams...(9/29) vs. Cle.: Posted two tackles on defense and added one tackle on special teams...(10/6) at Den.: Made his first career start at linebacker and recorded one tackle...(10/27) vs. KC: Logged one tackle on special teams...(11/3) at Cin.: Posted one tackle on defense...(11/17) at Mia.: Recorded one tackle on special teams...(11/24) vs. Den.: Registered one tackle on special teams...(12/16) vs. Atl.: Logged one tackle on special teams.
COLLEGE: Played five seasons at Ohio State, playing in 41 games with 27 starts…A three-year starter…Totaled 268 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery…In 2023, finished second on the team with 82 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble…Earned Big Ten Conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award and was named first-team all-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2023…Named second-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, Sports Illustrated and Phil Steele and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award…In 2022, led team in tackles (120), tackles for loss (12) while adding four passes defensed and one interception…Ranked fifth nationally, and first in the Big Ten, with 77 solo tackles…Ranked in the Top 25 nationally in tackles per game with 9.23…Named first-team all-Big Ten Conference by coaches and media…Named a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award…Earned second-team All-America honors by AP, FWAA, Walter Camp and The Sporting News…In 2021, played in all 13 games with four starts…Finished second on the team with 64 tackles…Played in one game in 2020 and redshirted the 2019 campaign after playing in only four games.
PERSONAL: Attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio …Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and was a consensus top-10 ranked player in the state of Ohio…As a senior, was named a First Team All-Ohio selection after recording 126 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, eight sacks and five passes defensed…Added seven quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and one interception…Led team to the state playoffs…Led the team with 81 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a junior…Also lettered in track and field team in the shot put and finished eighth at the state championship meet in 2018…Brother, Liam, played at Notre Dame and is in his fourth season with the Miami Dolphins.
ADDITIONAL STATISTICS: Special teams tackles – 9 in 2024.
SINGLE GAME HIGHS: TACKLES: Total – 2, 9/29/24 vs Cle. Solo – 2, 9/29/24 vs. Cle.
