HOW ACQUIRED:
Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
NFL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Has started 28 of 30 career games and totaled 130 tackles, including 5.5 sacks.
- Started 12 of 14 games during rookie season missing the final two with a shoulder injury. Totaled 60 tackles, 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.
- Finest game as a rookie came in a shutout versus Jacksonville (10/11/09) after leading the team with a career-high nine tackles to go along with a sack and forced fumble.
- Highest drafted Seahawks player since Shawn Springs was selected third overall in 1997. Highest drafted linebacker in club history. First linebacker chosen in first round since 1998 (Anthony Simmons). Seventh time in eight years club has selected a defensive player with their first pick. Third player chosen from Wake Forest since 2006 (Ryan Plackemeier, 2006; Steve Vallos, 2007.)
HOW ACQUIRED:
Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
NFL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Has started 28 of 30 career games and totaled 130 tackles, including 5.5 sacks.
- Started 12 of 14 games during rookie season missing the final two with a shoulder injury. Totaled 60 tackles, 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.
- Finest game as a rookie came in a shutout versus Jacksonville (10/11/09) after leading the team with a career-high nine tackles to go along with a sack and forced fumble.
- Highest drafted Seahawks player since Shawn Springs was selected third overall in 1997. Highest drafted linebacker in club history. First linebacker chosen in first round since 1998 (Anthony Simmons). Seventh time in eight years club has selected a defensive player with their first pick. Third player chosen from Wake Forest since 2006 (Ryan Plackemeier, 2006; Steve Vallos, 2007.)
COLLEGE:
The 2008 Butkus Award winner, given to the nation's top linebacker, Butkus surprised him in early December when he arrived on campus to personally hand the award to its recipient. Started 49 of the 51 games he appeared in, going on to rank third in school annals with 45.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Finished ninth on Wake Forest's all-time record list with 332 total tackles. Named All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team choice as a senior leading the team with a career-high 105 tackles (66 solo).
PERSONAL:
Attended E.E. Smith (Fayetteville, N.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Mike Earwood. Standout outside linebacker and tight end. Named Conference Defensive Player of the Year and also earned All-Conference and All-Region honors after registering 123 tackles during his senior year. Selected to the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl as a tight end. Married to Jamila with a son Maxwell.
