Northern Illinois University Athletics

Career
• Finished his career sixth on NIU’s career chart for quarterback sacks with 22.5.
• Made 130 stops, 70 solo, with 30 tackles for losses of 191 yards.
• Played in 58 games and started 46 over the last five seasons. 

2024
• Earned honorable mention All-America honors from Phil Steele. 
• Named All-MAC first team by league coaches and Phil Steele.
• Totaled a career-high eight sacks in 2024 to rank fourth in the MAC and 33rd nationally. 
• Tied for 14th nationally among active FBS players in sacks in 2024.
• Finished with a career-high 39 tackles, 23 solo, and 11.5 tackles for losses of 69 yards.
• Broke up a pass, forced a fumble in the Notre Dame win and recovered a fumble versus Buffalo (9-16). 
• Earned Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and MAC Defensive Player of the Week (9-9) honors for his play in NIU’s upset win over No. 5 Notre Dame.
• Had four solo stops, a career-high three tackles for loss and two sacks in the Huskies’ landmark win.
• Recorded at least one tackle in every game and had sacks in seven different games.
• Contributed four tackles and recovered a fumble against Buffalo (9-21).
• Had three solo stops and a sack at Bowling Green (10-12).
• Finished with a career-high seven tackles at Ball State (10-26).
• Recorded at least one sack in consecutive games at Western Michigan (11-6), versus Akron (11-13) and at Miami (11-19).
• Added five stops in the win at WMU and had his second multi-sack game versus the Zips with 1.5. 
• Totaled two tackles for loss in senior day win over Central Michigan (11-30). 
• Critical part of NIU defensive line that helped the Huskies rank fourth in the country in total defense and Top 20 in five other defensive metrics. 
• NIU opponents were held to 284.6 yards per game, the lowest total since 1972.
• Huskie opponents scored just 18.5 points per game, fewest since 2008, and were held to 20 points or less eight times.   

2023
• Started all 13 games at defensive tackle. 
• Finished the season with 35 tackles, three sacks and 4.5 tackles for losses of 24 yards. 
• Contributed a pair of solo stops in the Camellia Bowl win over Arkansas State (12-23). 
• Made four tackles with a tackle for loss at Kent State (11-25). 
• Sealed the Huskies’ 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan (10-21) with an interception to stop the Eagles’ final drive. 
• Also added a sack versus the Eagles. 
• Recorded a sack and three stops in the Huskies’ win at Akron (10-7). 
• Totaled a season-high five tackles at Toledo (9-30), tying a career-high.
• Made four tackles with a half sack versus Tulsa (9-23).
• Had two tackles and was in on a sack versus Southern Illinois (9-9). 
• Made four tackles in NIU’s season-opening overtime win at Boston College (9-2).
• Named to the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List. 
• Preseason First Team All-MAC by Phil Steele and Athlon; Second Team All-MAC by PFF. 

2022
•    Earned first team All-MAC honors from Phil Steele and named to the All-MAC second team by league coaches. 
•    College Football Network put him on its honorable mention All-MAC squad. 
•    Nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, presented to the nation’s top former or current walk-on.
•    Selected as the Huskies’ Defensive Player of the Year. 
•    Started all 12 games and made a career high 36 tackles, 16 solo, from his defensive tackle position.
•    Credited with at least two stops in 11 of 12 games on the year.
•    Tied for the team lead in sacks with 5.5 for losses of 58 yards and ranked second on the team with seven tackles for loss.
•    Totaled four tackles at Tulsa (9-10).
•    Made five tackles, with 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack, at Kentucky (9-24).
•    Contributed a 12-yard sack at Ball State (10-1) with three tackles.
•    Recorded two sacks for 22 yards and four stops, three solo, in NIU’s win at Eastern Michigan (10-15).
•    Made three solo tackles with a sack at Western Michigan (11-9).
•    Versus Miami (11-16), had a 14-yard strip sack and recovery in the third quarter to go with a season high five tackles. 

2021
•    Versatile defensive lineman started nine games at defensive tackle and defensive end. 
•    Recorded 16 total tackles, 10 solo, while playing in all 14 games. 
•    His four sacks led the team.  
•    Opened the season with a career high three tackles at Georgia Tech (9-4) and combined with Ray Thomas on a five-yard sack in the first quarter.
•    Blocked the Jackets’ game-winning field goal attempt on the game’s final play to secure NIU’s Boneyard win. 
•    Followed that with a sack and a forced fumble to go with two solo stops the next week versus Wyoming (9-11).
•    Posted solo sacks versus Eastern Michigan (10-2) and Western Michigan (11-23).
•    Made at least one tackle in each of the last seven games of the season while starting the final four games of the year at defensive end. 

2020
• Appeared in all six games as a true freshman.
• Led the team in sacks with two.
• Tallied five tackles, all solo, and three tackles for loss on the season.
• Season-best performance three tackles, including a tackle for loss, a sack and a forced fumble at Eastern Michigan (12-12).
• Recorded two tackles, including a sack, against Ball State (11-18).

HIGH SCHOOL
• Played wide receiver and linebacker at Bremen.
• Caught 21 passes for 460 yards and four touchdowns in seven games as a junior.
• Averaged 21.9 yards per catch.
• Made 14 tackles with one for loss in 2018.
• Scored on a 37-yard reception versus Tinley Park.

PERSONAL
•    Birthday is June 28th.
•    Son of Trumane, and the late Bridget O’Malley.
•    A sport management major.