How’d you end up at your current school? What was the recruiting process like? Currently I’m at Illinois State University, but not for football. I play for the Midwest Renegades, a team in Bloomington Normal. I also previously played for the Midwest Hawks, an 8-man team in Peoria. So I didn’t have any recruiting

What gives you an advantage over other athletes at TE?The advantage I have over other athletes is my work ethic, and determination to be the best one in the building. I am the best blocking and route running TE. No one works harder than me, and that is a promise. 

What does being a student of a game mean to you? Being a student of the game means that I may be well knowledgeable in the sport I’ve loved for years, but there is always more to learn. How to block more efficiently, or how to release easier off the line. Always be a sponge to soak in more and more information, no matter how much you know. The mind must always be open to new ideas. 

How does being a TE reflect itself in your personal life? How being a TE reflects in my own life, is being a very reliable, and sturdy person. If anyone ever needs me for anything I’m always there waiting and ready to help as much as I can. 

How would you describe your work ethic? I would describe my work ethic as rock solid, and will push myself until I’ve accomplished everything that I want. No matter the task, or challenge, I will always find a way to push through any obstacle. 

What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from the coaching staff? From my coaches I’ve learned that if you are wanting to win it can’t just be you. It has to be everyone around you. And for me that’s trying to be the best possible leader I can be to bring people along for a successful journey.

What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far? I would say my biggest accomplishment would be, going from a lineman in highschool, with having no idea if I’d play college football. To become the TE I’ve always wanted to be at the Semi-Pro level. And becoming a dual threat, run block and passing game kind of TE.

How did you hear about the National Scouting Combine? I heard about the NSC from a friend of mine at my gym some time ago. And he told me, “if you’re serious about football, you need to be there.” And I have been preparing ever since that day. 

Why did you choose the National Scouting Combine? I chose it for the same reason, if I take football that seriously, I should put myself in a position to succeed, and bet on myself. 

What do you hope to show people at the combine? I hope to show people who I really am, and what I am fully capable of. A fast route running and effective run blocking TE that was always an under the radar player. I’m ready to be found, and find a home.

What was your Major? My Major currently is Physical Education. I will be graduating in the Spring of 2024

Who is or has been the most influential person in your life? The most influential person in my life was, and still is my grandmother. She passed when I was a freshman in High school, and I promised her I’d pursue my football career for her, and to make her proud of me someday. I also play for my father. He is the one that got me hooked on football, and I’ve wanted to make him proud, and pursue something he never could. He is my rock solid person every day that I can talk to and lean on when I need, I have to make him proud by being successful in the game that he showed me.

If not football, then what? If not football, I would Teach at an elementary school, and continue to add to my coaching resume. 

If you could make a positive impact on all of society what would it be and why? A positive impact that I would want to do for society, would be to have a foundation that raises money for teachers. Being a teaching major, it’s come to my attention that many teachers around the world don’t make nearly enough money for the things they do out of the kindness of their hearts. So I’d like to start a foundation that raises money and goes to teachers around the world. 

What is something unique about you that people would find interesting? I guess something unique about me is I am a farm boy, and I have a massive family farm, and my father raised pigs for a bit of his life, and still does crops. So people find my family farm and large family unique.

If you had the opportunity to play another sport professionally, what sport would you choose? I would definitely give bodybuilding a go, I love lifting, and being in the weight room. But for football I have more plyometric workouts, and would love to switch to the bodybuilding route.

Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or ”pay it forward” in your community? I am not a part of a charity, but I volunteer at my old high school as the Freshmen offensive coordinator. It’s a place that I owe my life to, and want to give back and help the next generation of Ironmen football players be who they