Drafted in the first-round (3rd overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft…highest draft pick in team history since 1985 when Buffalo selected Bruce Smith (Virginia Tech) No. 1 overall… becomes the third Alabama product drafted by Buffalo (DB Raymond Abruzzese, 1962 and RB John Wright, 1988).
PRO: Drafted in the first-round (3rd overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft…highest draft pick in team history since 1985 when Buffalo selected Bruce Smith (Virginia Tech) No. 1 overall… becomes the third Alabama product drafted by Buffalo (DB Raymond Abruzzese, 1962 and RB John Wright, 1988).
NFL AWARDS
• 2011 Rookie of the Week - Week Eight
2011
• Started 15 of 16 games during his rookie season, finishing sixth among NFL rookie defensive linemen with 43 tackles (32) solo
• Recorded a team-high 5.5 sacks - most by a Bills rookie since 2001 (Aaron Schobel - 6.5)
• At KC (9/11): made his NFL debut and tallied two solo tackles
• vs. OAK (9/18): started at DE and led all defensive linemen with four solo tackles
• Deflected a QB Tom Brady pass in the fourth quarter that was intercepted by CB Drayton Florence and returned for a 27-yard touchdown, giving Buffalo a 31-24 lead vs. New England (9/25)
• Recorded the first sack of his NFL career, bringing down Bengals QB Andy Dalton for a loss of eight yards at CIN (10/2)... matched his season-high for four tackles
• Produced a quarterback hit on Eagles QB Michael Vick vs. PHI (10/9)
• Tallied four tackles (three solo) and a stop for a loss at NYG (10/16)
• Made his first career start at nose tackle in place of Kyle Williams vs. WAS (10/30)... posted 2.5 sacks, his first career multi-sack game and the most by a Bills rookie since 1987 (Cornelius Bennet - 4.0 vs. PHI 12/2) and the first multi-sack game by a Bills rookie since 2001 (Aaron Schobel - 2.0 vs. NE 12/16)... added four tackles, two stops for a loss and three quarterback hits... named the NFL Rookie of the Week
• Totaled a season-best five tackles (four solo) along with his first career fumble recovery vs. NYJ (11/6)
• Recorded two solo stops at DAL (11/13)
• Tallied two solo tackles with a stop for a loss at MIA (11/20), in an effort holding the Dolphins to 95 rushing yards and a season-low 242 total yards of offense
• Tallied two solo tackles with a stop for a loss at MIA (11/20), in an effort holding the Dolphins to 95 rushing yards and a season-low 242 total yards of offense
• Posted one solo stop at NYJ (11/27)... missed the first start of his NFL career due to an illness
• Closed in on one assisted tackle vs. TEN (12/4)
• Matched a personal-best of five tackles (three solo) along with a sack and added two stops for losses and two quarterback hits
• Recorded three solo tackles, stop for loss, quarterback hit and a sack vs. MIA (12/18), increasing his season total to 5.5
• Tallied four tackles (three solo), including a tackle for a loss vs. DEN (12/24)
• Posted one tackle at NE (1/1)
COLLEGE: Started 15-of-33 games at defensive end for the Crimson Tide… totaled 70 tackles (40 solo), adding 11.0 sacks for minus 70 yards, 20 tackles for losses. 20 quarterback pressures broke-up six pass attempts
• 2010: All-Southeastern Conference first-team choice and Associated Press third-team selection… started all 11 games he played in and finished eighth on the team 33 tackles (20 solo)… 4.5 sacks for minus 26 yards ranked second… added 11.0 tackles for losses, four pass deflections, 10 quarterback hurries… part of a defensive unit that ranked second in the SEC and 10th in the nation, allowing 110.15 rushing yards per game… recorded a career-high eight tackles along with four stops for a loss against South Carolina… with four tackles, added a sack and pass deflection leading to an interception against Mississippi… vs. Tennessee, batted down two pass attempts at the line of scrimmage and posted a half-sack and a stop for a loss… tallied a sack and three tackles against Auburn
• 2009: Tabbed Alabama’s Iron Man Award and Defensive Achievement Award recipient... garnered Defensive Most Valuable Player of the BCS Championship game accolades vs. Texas en route to the Crimson Tide’s 13th national championship… against Texas, knocked QB Colt McCoy out of the game with a big hit in the first quarter and then intercepted a shovel pass in the final seconds of the second quarter, returning the ball 29-yards for a touchdown… part of a defense that held the Longhorns to 276 total yards, 81 rushing… played in 14 games, with four starts and finished eighth among defenders with 33 tackles (19 solo)… led the team with 6.5 sacks for minus 44 yards and ranked fourth with nine tackles for losses… notched two pass break-ups, seven quarterback pressures and returned one interception for a 28-yard touchdown… member of a defense that led the SEC and ranked second in the nation, allowing 78.14 rushing yards per game… recorded first sack of his career against Virginia Tech with 1.5 sacks for a loss of eight yards… registered two sacks for a loss of 17 yards against Florida International along with four tackles… part of a defense that held South Carolina to 64 rushing yards… recorded a sack, four tackles and a pass break-up vs. Tennessee, limiting the Volunteers to 74 rushing yards…posted 2.0 sacks in the fourth quarter against LSU, tallying four total tackles
• 2008: One of 16 true freshman to make an appearance in a game for Alabama… made Crimson Tide debut in season-opener vs. Clemson… tallied four tackles and three quarterback pressures in eight games played… recorded first career tackle along with a quarterback hurry at Tennessee in Terrence Cody’s absence on the defensive line… saw time at nose guard vs. LSU, totaling three tackles
PERSONAL: General Studies major… the sixth of seven children… an ASWA All-State honorable mention… totaled 117 tackles and 20.0 sacks in senior campaign at Huffman, also returning a fumble for a touchdown…Tabbed SuperPrep magazine’s No. 27 defensive linemen in the country and No. 7 player in the state of Alabama
