Career: East-West Shrine Bowl pick earned All-America recognition in 2019 (second-team from PFF College) and 2020 (honorable mention from Phil Steele) … First-team All-Sun Belt honors in each of his last three seasons … In three seasons as a starting cornerback, totaled six interceptions (with two pick-six TD returns), 25 passes defended, 112 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
2021: East-West Shrine Bowl pick and first-team All-Sun Belt selection … Started in all nine of his appearances, including the first seven games … Had a tone-setting interception on the first series in a win at Georgia State and finished the year with five pass breakups and 26 tackles (22 solo) … Missed-tackle rate of only 4.0 percent, according to PFF data and allowed just 19 receptions and no touchdowns while being targeted 40 times, with the long reception against him covering 33 yards.
2020: All-America Honorable Mention from Phil Steele … First-team All-Sun Belt … Started all 12 games … Playing alongside fellow All-America cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles as part of the nation’s top tandem, according to PFF, finished season with 41 tackles, six breakups, two tackles for loss, half a sack and one forced fumble … Career-high nine tackles vs. Arkansas State as App State held Red Wolves to no passing TDs and 17 points (21.2 below average at time) … Allowed fewer than 30 yards in coverage in four of first five games … Preseason All-American via Walter Camp (first team), USA TODAY Sports (second team), CBS Sports (second team), Sporting News (second team), Street and Smith (second team), PFF College (third team) and Phil Steele (fourth team) … Preseason watch list for Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award ... Highest-graded returning Group of Five defender via PFF College.
2019: Second-team All-American from PFF College and first-team All-Sun Belt … According to PFF College, his overall grade of 91.7 tied LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. for No. 1 among 496 qualifying FBS cornerbacks … Had five interceptions to tie for the Sun Belt lead, and tied for first place nationally with two pick-six touchdowns … Started in 13 of 14 games, coming off the bench against Coastal Carolina, and ended season with 45 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, eight PBUs among his 13 passes defended and one blocked punt … Returned interceptions for touchdowns against Coastal Carolina (24 yards) and Georgia State (30 yards) … According to PFF College, allowed just 25 catches on 354 zone coverage snaps and hauled in three interceptions in the process ... Also according to PFF College, had just two missed tackles among his 44 attempts ... Named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week with two interceptions, plus three PBUs and one tackle in the win at Georgia State … During the regular season, coverage grade of 90.2 ranked second nationally among FBS cornerbacks, and led App State with a defensive grade of 82.4 in the New Orleans Bowl win … At Georgia State, his touchdown broke a 21-all tie with 2:18 remaining in the first half, and his second interception less than 90 seconds later set up the touchdown that allowed the Mountaineers to take a 35-21 lead into halftime … Blocked punt late in the first half against Charlotte was returned 16 yards by D’Marco Jackson for a touchdown that produced a 28-13 lead … Had a career-high seven tackles in the Sun Belt Championship Game and six tackles in the 34-31 win at North Carolina … … Heading into bowl season, ranked first nationally in coverage against out routes and fourth nationally on passes thrown in less than 2.5 seconds.
2018: Appeared in 11 games, including the 45-13 New Orleans Bowl victory over Middle Tennessee, as he contributed on special teams and at cornerback … Accounted for his first career tackle against Louisiana.
2017: Redshirted … Was often on the travel roster as a possible fourth cornerback.
High School: Rated a two-star prospect by Scout.com as a cornerback … Played at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga … Named most valuable defensive back as a junior and a senior … Established himself as a premier corner as a junior with four interceptions, 12 PBUs and 45 tackles to earn All-Region 6-4A honors and All-Dekalb County … Was named to the Georgia All-Star Team as a junior as a starting CB … Saw little action on his side as a senior, recording an INT, 10 PBUs and 45 tackles.
Personal: Comes from a very athletic family: Father played football at Middle Tennessee, while brother (Shannon) ran track at Georgia and sister (Teryn) played soccer at Alabama.
