2003 (Sophomore): The Golden Panthers leading tackler as strong safety and the first FIU player ever with more than 100 stops over a campaign...more than half (60) of his 117 tackles were solo...an instinctive player who is used a lot on blitz situations...a first-team All-Independent selection for the second-consecutive year, the only two-time first-team selection at FIU...first player in the history of the program with 200-plus stops...in seven of his 12 games, recorded 10-or-more tackles, including a team-leading 15 against nationally-ranked Georgia Southern (10/4) and 14 at I-A Troy (10/18)...led the team in tackles five times...recorded seven tackles for loss and one sack against nationally-ranked Florida Atlantic (11/22)...also forced a fumble and had one of his three pass breakups against the Owls...had two interceptions in games against Holy Cross (10/25) and at Gardner-Webb (11/15),,,Honor Roll student for spring 2004.
2002 (Freshman): Named first-team All-Independent after leading the team with 86 tackles that included 39 solo...forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, recovered one and blocked a kick in the season-opener against Saint Peter's (8/29)...recorded seven tackles for losses of minus-13 yards...had three games with double-digit tackles, including 16 (eight solo) against Gardner-Webb (10/26) 14 verses national-champion WKU (10/12) and 12 at Elon (9/7)...recorded eight tackles on three different occasions...forced a fumble against Florida Atlantic (11/23)...named Independent I-AA Defensive Player of the Week (10/28).
Lyman High School: The Orlando Sentinel's Seminole County Defensive Player of the Year...2000 honors included all-conference, all-county, Florida Athletic Coaches' Associaiton all-district, South Orlando Kiwanis Club All-Central Florida and honorable mention all-state...selected to compete in the Dixon Ticonderoga second-annual Central Florida all-star game...led the county in tackles, collected 105 solo and 65 assists...added 18 tackles for losses, three sacks and three interceptions as a senior...over his last two years, racked up 327 tackles and more than 400 over his three-year high school career for head coach Bill Caughell...as a first-time punter, averaged 38 yards per kick and turned five low snaps into four first downs...also competed with Greyhounds' wrestling, weightlifting and track teams...undefeated as a senior heavyweight wrestler...voted Most Outstanding Heavyweight Wrestler in four tournaments that year...finished his prep wrestling career with a 39-1 record.
Personal: Born November 15, 1982...chose FIU over interest shown by Colorado and Florida Atlantic...raised by his grandmother Irabelle Linker...hobbies include modeling and was involved in the winter 2003 national advertising campaign for Abercrombie and Fitch...Criminal Justice major.
