Biography
2021
• Named second team All-MAC by league coaches, was a third team choice by Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus and earned honorable mention recognition from Pro Football Network.
• NIU earned MAC Offensive Line of the Year honors from Pro Football Network.
• Anchor of an offensive line that allowed just 10 sacks in 14 games to rank second in the country (0.79/game).
• Front five helped NIU to an average of 241.4 rushing yards per game to rank fourth in the country and second in the MAC.
• NIU totaled 10 200 yard and three 300-yard rushing games on the season.
• Made 32 consecutive starts on the NIU offensive line, including 22 straight at center.
• Led an offensive line that paved the way for 13 100-yard rushing games by NIU backs in 11 games.
• Helped the Huskies to a season high 355 rushing yards on 55 carries in the Cure Bowl game versus Coastal Carolina (12-17) as NIU averaged 6.45 yards per carry.
• The Huskies rushed for 266 yards in the MAC Championship Game victory over Kent State (12-4).
• Protected Rocky Lombardi as the QB threw for a season-high 532 yards and NIU tallied a season-best 681 yards of total offense at Kent State (11-10).
• Helped the Huskies to 548 yards of total offense, including 351 yards passing against CMU (10-23) and to 574 yards vs. Maine (11-25)
• Aided NIU to 319 rushing yards versus Bowling Green (10-16).
• Academic All-MAC selection.
2020
• Third team All-MAC honoree.
• Started all six games at center.
• One of six Huskie offensive players to start every game, starting 18 consecutive games.
• Led an offensive line that assisted the offense to average 365.7 yards of total offense per game.
• Aided NIU to season-bests in rushing yards (199) and total offense (420) in the season finale at Eastern Michigan (12-12).
• Helped clear the way for tailback Harrison Waylee to back-to-back 110-yard rushing games to end the season.
• Academic All-MAC selection.
2019
• Started every game, nine at right guard, the final three games of the year at center.
• Helped clear the way for NIU’s first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher in six years.
• NIU averaged 7.2 yards per play and totaled 510 yards of total offense at Ohio (10-12) for the Huskies’ first 500-yard game since 2017.
• Assisted in paving the way to a season-best 274 rushing yards vs. Akron (10-26).
• The Huskie offensive line did not allow a sack and rushed for 232 rushing yards at Toledo (11-13).
2018
• Started eight games at right guard (five games) and left guard (three games) while playing in all 14.
• Made his first career start at Eastern Michigan (9-29) at right guard and started the next four games at that spot. • Helped Huskie backs to 100-yard days in four of the five games, including 169-yard efforts by Marcus Childers vs. Ohio (10-13) and Tre Harbison at Akron (11-1).
• After five consecutive starts at right guard, started the next game vs. Toledo (11-7) at left guard as two players went over the 100-yard mark in that game.
• Also started at Western Michigan (11-20) and the MAC Championship game (11-30) on the left side.
• Protected Childers as he passed for 300 yards and tossed four touchdown passes in the MAC title game win over Buffalo (12-18).
2017
• Played in three games as a back-up offensive lineman.
• Made his collegiate debut versus Eastern Illinois (9-9) and saw action at Bowling Green (10-21) and versus Ball State (11-9).
2016
• Redshirted.
High School
• Earned First Team All-Area honors from the Bloomington Herald-Times and All-Western Indiana Conference for senior season.
• Chosen to paly in Wabash Valley Classic All-Star Game.
• Stand out basketball player for the Mustangs.
Personal
• Born December 11, 1997 in Rhode Island.
• Son of James and Nichole Patton.
• Media Studies Major.
