04/24/25: Drafted by Seattle (2nd round, 35th overall)
COLLEGE: Three-year player who began his career as a Freshman All-American in 2022 and capped his career as a first-team All-American in 2024. Appeared in 37 games with 36 starts over a three-year career and credited with 244 career tackles and six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. Earned first-team All-America honors according to AP, Sporting News, Reese's Senior Bowl and College FB Nation, and was a second-team selection by FAA, SI.com, CBS Sports and Phil Steele. Was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection. Was a finalist for the 2024 Blanchard-Rogers Trophy, a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. College Football Nation selected him as its Safety of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and SEC Safety of the Year. Started all 13 games during his junior year and led the team with 88 tackles (57 solo) and 3.0 tackles for loss. Had four interceptions, tying for fourth in the SEC. One of three players in the country to return two interceptions for touchdowns and ranked eighth in the nation with 107 interception return yards.
PERSONAL: Graduated from Irmo (S.C.) High School in 2022. Played all over on defense, but primarily at middle linebacker. Earned first-team All-State 4A honors and led the Yellow Jackets to the semifinals as a senior. Selected for the Shrine Bowl and the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl. Credited with 232 tackles, four sacks and eight forced fumbles as a senior. Was an all-state selection as a junior when he collected 100 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble and three sacks in nine games. Ranked as the sixth-best player in the Palmetto State by Rivals and 247Sports.
