NIL Opportunities

2022 Thorpe Award Finalist

2022 Consensus All-American

Two-Time All-Big Ten

2023 NFL Draft - No. 5 Overall (Seattle)

2022 Junior

• One of three finalists for the Thorpe Award
• First Thorpe Award finalist in Illinois history
• One of 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award
• Consensus All-American, the 21st in Illinois history
• First ever defensive back to be named a Consensus All-American in Illinois history
• Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year
• No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks
• Highest drafted defensive back in Illinois history
• Walter Camp All-American first team
• AFCA All-American first team
• FWAA All-American first team
• AP All-American first team
• Phil Steele All-American first team
• CBS All-American first team
• PFF All-American first team
• USA Today All-American second team
• Senior Bowl All-American
• All-Big Ten first team (coaches and media)
• No. 26 player in the nation in 2022 according to PFF's College 101
• Senior Bowl invite
• Illinois’ Dick Butkus Defensive MVP
• Started all 12 regular season games at cornerback
• Sat out the ReliaQuest Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft
• 40 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, three interceptions, and 14 pass breakups on the season
• Did not allow a touchdown all season
• No. 1 coverage grade in the nation (92.5), according to PFF
• No. 2 graded cornerback in the nation and No. 1 in Power-5 (92.0), according to PFF
• No. 2 NFL passer rating against in the nation and No. 1 in Power-5 (25.0), according to PFF
• No. 6 graded defender in the nation and No. 2 in Power-5 (92.5), according to PFF
• Second in the nation in forced incompletions (18) and fourth in the nation in forced incompletion percentage (28.6), according to PFF
• Third-lowest reception percentage in the nation (34.9), according to PFF
• Allowed only 16 receptions on 54 targets as the primary defender on the season, according to ESPN
• Allowed just 3.3 yards against per attempt, according to ESPN
• Eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in passes defended (17)
• Eighth in the Big Ten in interceptions (3)
• Allowed fewer than 35 receiving yards in 11 of 12 games this season while matching up with opponent's No. 1 receivers
• Played the second-most man coverage snaps in the nation (560), according to PFF
• First career two-interception game at Northwestern 11/26/22
• Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week following seven tackles, three pass breakups and only 11 passing yards against on 11 targets against Virginia 9/10/22

2021 Sophomore

• All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)
• Played and started 10 games
• 52 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, and nine pass breakups on the season
• Led Illinois with nine pass breakups
• Tied for second on the team with 8.0 TFLs
• Fourth on the team with 42 solo tackles
• Sixth on the team with 52 tackles
• Ninth in the Big Ten in pass breakups (9) and fourth in the Big Ten West
• Tied for fifth among Big Ten cornerbacks in defensive stops in 2021, according to PFF (19)
• Six tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack and one quarterback hurry in the Illini's 9OT upset win over #7 Penn State 10/23/21 in the longest game in college football history
• Seven tackles including 1.0 TFLs against Maryland 9/17/21
• Seven tackles, 1.0 TFL and one PBU against Virginia 9/11/21
• Nine tackles, 2.0 TFLs and two PBUs against UTSA 9/4/21
• Career-high four PBUs against Nebraska 8/28/21

2020 Sophomore

• Played in and started seven games at cornerback 
• Missed the season opener at Wisconsin with an injury 
• 33 tackles, 1.0 TFL, two interception, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries on the season 
• First career interception against Minnesota 11/7/20 

2019 Freshman

• Played in all 13 games and started three at cornerback
• 33 tackles, two PBUs on the season
• Led the team in special teams tackles (13)
• Led the team in kickoff tackles (11)
• Only true freshman defender to start a game for Illinois in 2019
• Chase-down tackle at the goal line in the fourth quarter vs. No. 6 Wisconsin 10/19/19 led to goal-line stop to help Illinois win 24-23 and complete one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history
• Only true freshman to start a game for Illinois in 2019
• Joined the Illini during training camp after initially planning to attend Hutchinson Community College (Kan.)

High School

• Two-year letterwinner in football
• Played for head coach Jason McDonald at Pine Forest
• Help Pine Forest to the 2018 District 1-6A championship and advance to the second round of the state playoffs
• 2018 Pensacola News Journal Defensive Player of the Year
• 2018 Pensacola News Journal All-Area first team
• 74 tackles, nine PBUs, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, and an area-high seven interceptions as a senior
• Scored two touchdowns as a senior, one on a fumble return and one on an interception return
• 65 tackles, nine PBUs, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, and four interceptions as a junior, his first year playing football
• Also played basketball and ran track in high school, helping three Pine Forest teams to district titles as a senior
• Standout high jumper and part of multiple championship relay teams, including a Florida Class 3A state runner-up finish in the 4x100-meter relay
• 2018 Pensacola News Journal Male Athlete of the Year for overall production in all three sports
• Verbally committed to Illinois in July 2019, four days before training camp
• Offers included Appalachian State, Georgia State, Massachusetts, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Troy, Temple, and UAB
• Originally committed to Hutchinson Community College (Kan.)

Personal

• Born Dec. 11, 2000
• Did not play football until his junior year of high school
• Majoring in communication