Bio

SUMMARY:

- First NEC player to accept invite to Senior Bowl

- Named NFLPA Collegiate Bowl MVP after recording two interceptions in the game.

- Trying to be first Saint Francis player drafted since 1945

- Last pick - Ed Stofko, TB/DB, 9th round, Chicago/Pittsburgh Cardinals/Steelers

- Last SFU player to appear in NFL game (Tony Bova, E-B, 1947, Pittsburgh Steelers)

- Looking to be first NEC player drafted since Monmouth TE John Nalbone (2009)

- Only one NEC player currently in NFL (Julian Stanford, LB, Jets, Wagner)

- Led Saint Francis to 7-5 record, first ever Regular Season NEC Title (first conf title as DI program) and program’s first ever FCS Playoffs berth.

- Team Captain (Junior and Senior season)

SENIOR (2016): Accepted invitations to play in NFLPA Bowl and Senior Bowl, the first players in SFU and NEC history to be invite to those games… Named All-America by Athlon Sports, Associated Press, College Sports Madness, HERO Sports, STATS FCS and Walter Camp Foundation as a defensive back.  College Sports Madness also named Jerome All-America as a kick returner… STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (FCS National Defensive Player of the Year)… First Team All-NEC as a defensive back and return specialist. Became first player in conference history to be a four-time First Team selection… 18 career interceptions are most among any current FCS player. Finished second all-time in interceptions in SFU and NEC history… Finished SFU career among all-time ranks in interception return yards (1st, 396), pass breakups (4th, 29), kick returns (5th, 45), kick return average (1st, 27.2), kick return yards (2nd, 1,225), punt returns (5th, 39) and punt return yards (4th, 295)… Finished SFU career with eight touchdowns, in five different ways, with three kick returns, two interception returns, a punt return, a fumble return and a receiving touchdown… In 2016, recorded 59 tackles, 33 solo and 5.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, six interceptions and returned a fumble 89 yards for a touchdown, doing all of that in 10 games played… Tied for third in FCS and led NEC with six interceptions… Ranked second in FCS in kick return average with 28.9 yards per return… Won two NEC Defensive Player of the Week awards and one NEC Special Teams Player of the Week honor… In season opener at No. 13 Montana, had 10 tackles, five solo and one for loss, with a pass breakup and two interceptions.  Returned four kickoffs for 196 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown off of a squib kick and an 86-yard return.  Also returned two punts for 41 yards. Named STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week… At Towson, returned a fumble 89 yards for a touchdown and made nine stops, with five solo tackles… Had six tackles and a 25-yard kick return in the win at Columbia… Recorded two tackles and an interception, which he returned 28 yards, at No. 20 Albany. Had four kick returns for 52 yards… In the win over Malone, recorded nine tackles, four solo, a sack, an interception and two pass breakups… All over the field in the win at Robert Morris, with 10 tackles, eight solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions (29 return yards) and two pass breakups.  Caught a 48-yard touchdown pass.  Rushed for four yards. Returned two kickoffs for 108 yards, including a 74-yard return… Against Bryant, had four stops, three solo, and completed a 33-yard pass to quarterback Zack Drayer… Recorded two tackles vs. Duquesne and one at Wagner… Had six stops, with three solo and one for loss, in the FCS Playoffs First Round game at Villanova    

JUNIOR (2015): Named Second Team All-American as a kick returner by STATS FCS.  First Team All-NEC selection as both a defensive back and a return specialist. Named to the CFPA Returner of the Year Award Midseason Watch List.  Led the FCS, averaging 31.2 yards per kick return, including two touchdowns.  Was one of eight players in the nation with two or more kick returns for scores.  Totaled 58 tackles, including 33 solo, to lead the secondary.  Added 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and tied for the team-lead with three interceptions.  Recorded five tackles, including four solo and a sack, in the win vs. Georgetown.  Added two kick returns for 39 yards and two punt returns for 40 yards.  Had a school-record 99-yard kick return for a touchdown at Towson, which is the longest play from scrimmage in school history.  Had four returns for 181 yards to earn NEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.  Contributed 11 tackles, including one for loss, broke up a pass and returned an interception for 70 yards.  Had a team-high 11 stops, with seven solo, and a pass breakup at Youngstown State.  Added four returns for 78 yards, including a 51-yard return.  Returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown at East Tennessee State.  Added a tackle and returned an interception 45 yards.  Also lined up on offense and completed a 53-yard pass to Terell Smith.  Became the first FCS player this season to return a kick for a touchdown, complete a pass and intercept a pass in the same game.  Made seven stops, including six solo, two for loss, a sack and broke up a pass in the win against Wagner.  Also had two kick returns for 67 yards, including a 41-yard return.  Had a six-tackle performance at Bryant, with three solo and one for loss.  The following week, he had two tackles and two breakups vs. Sacred Heart.  Contributed seven tackles, with three solo, half a sack and a pass breakup at Central Connecticut State.  Added a kick return for 19 yards and four punt returns for 35 yards.  He recorded four tackles and an interception vs. Robert Morris.  Added four punt returns for 34 yards.  Ended the season with four tackles and a pass breakup at Duquesne.

SOPHOMORE (2014): Started in all 11 games for Saint Francis … All-NEC First Team … All-NEC Second Team (Returner) … Preseason All-NEC Team … Recorded 79 tackles; 50 solo … Second on team with 3 interceptions.

FRESHMAN (2013): Played in all 11 games during the 2013 season … Posted 56 tackles, 41 of which were solo … Finished the season with six interceptions and four pass break-ups… Received NEC Rookie of the Week honors (10/7) … NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year … Named to the All-NEC First Team … Posted a season-high eight tackles at James Madison (9/14).

HIGH SCHOOL: A three-year starter at quarterback and defensive back at J.P. Taravella High School … led J.P. Taravella to its first section championship since 1982 … finished the 2012 season with 1,025 passing yards and 750 rushing yards … recorded five interceptions at cornerback for the season …  named honorable mention Sun Sentinel QB and third team All-Broward County … played in the North South Broward All-Star game where he was named MVP … participated in the Under Armour Dade-Broward All-Star game where he recorded eight tackles and two pass breakups at cornerback.