TRANSACTIONS: Selected by the Houston Texans in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft...signed with Texans on May 28, 2010.
2011 (Houston 9/0):
Ranked fifth on the team with five special teams tackles
Returned 10 kickoffs for 205 yards (20.5 average)
Threw a key block enabling Jacoby Jones’ 79-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Indianapolis (9/11)
Saw action at cornerback and on special teams at Miami (9/18)
Inactive for seven games of the regular season
Returned the first kickoff 45 yards at Jacksonville (11/27)
Had three kickoff returns for an average of 18.0 yards vs. Atlanta (12/4)
Averaged 13.0 yards on three kickoff returns before leaving with an ankle injury at Cincinnati (12/11)
Made his postseason debut and assisted on one special teams tackle in AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Cincinnati (1/7/12)
TRANSACTIONS: Selected by the Houston Texans in the fifth round (144th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft...signed with Texans on May 28, 2010.
2011 (Houston 9/0):
Ranked fifth on the team with five special teams tackles
Returned 10 kickoffs for 205 yards (20.5 average)
Threw a key block enabling Jacoby Jones’ 79-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Indianapolis (9/11)
Saw action at cornerback and on special teams at Miami (9/18)
Inactive for seven games of the regular season
Returned the first kickoff 45 yards at Jacksonville (11/27)
Had three kickoff returns for an average of 18.0 yards vs. Atlanta (12/4)
Averaged 13.0 yards on three kickoff returns before leaving with an ankle injury at Cincinnati (12/11)
Made his postseason debut and assisted on one special teams tackle in AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Cincinnati (1/7/12)
2010 (Houston 14/0):
Saw action in 14 games, mostly on special teams
Made two tackles (one solo) and intercepted one pass
Picked off Eli Manning for the first interception of his career vs. the New York Giants (10/10)
Assisted on one tackle and made one special teams tackle vs. Baltimore (12/13)
Made two special teams tackles at Tennessee (12/19)
COLLEGE:
Earned a postseason all-star invite to the 2010 East-West Shrine Game (was unable to participate in the game due to injury)
Sixth on NU’s career interceptions list with nine and third on NU’s career pass breakups list with 30
Despite being hampered with leg injuries his senior season, played in 10 of 13 games and was named team’s 2009 Defensive MVP and was the 2009 Team co-captain
2009 first-team All-Big Ten selection by media and second-team all-league choice by coaches
Team’s 2009 Defensive Most Valuable Player
Named the Tri-County Male Athlete of the Year by his hometown Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame after he finished with 37 tackles and a team-best five interceptions in 10 games
Ranked first in Big Ten and eighth nationally in interceptions
Finished 2008 fourth on team with 67 tackles and first on squad with 14 passes defended, which tied for fifth in the Big Ten and 38th nationally
2007 starter at cornerback and returned kickoffs in 10 games (first four, last six)
Ranked sixth in the Big Ten with a 23.2 ypr average and inished third on team with 75 tackles
Had 6.5 TFLs and led team with six pass breakups
Named to the Sporting News’ 2006 Freshman All-Big Ten team and was the team’s NGN Special Teams Newcomer of the Year Award recipient
Earned his first career interception against Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith
PERSONAL:
Communication studies major
Earned team MVP and all-state honors (played eight different positions his senior year)
Earned all-state honors from the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette and Illinois Football Coaches Association
First-team Peoria Journal Star all-area and all-conference selection, as well, in 2005
Helped the Knights earn a berth in the Illinois state playoffs three consecutive years
Primarily played tailback and defensive back for Richwoods
Earned a spot in the IFCA’s Shriners All-Star game
Won the Illinois state long jump his junior year
