Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-0
Weight: 230
Class: Junior
Hometown: Independence, Mo.
High School: Truman

At Washburn: Returns to his inside linebackers position after starting all 23 games of his Ichabod career … he has recorded 243 career tackles which ranks eighth on the all-time chart while his 135 assisted tackles is fourth all-time at Washburn … his 108 solo tackles is 19th on the all-time Washburn chart … for 2008 he was a preseason second team All-American by Lindy’s Magazine.

In 2007: Led the Ichabods with 143 total tackles, which is second on the Washburn single-season chart … his total included 64 solo tackles which ranks tied for eight at Washburn and 79 assisted tackles which is second in single-season history for the Ichabods … he recorded 20 tackles against Central Missouri with eight solo stops and two tackles for loss … twice named the MIAA’s Defensive Player of the Week after recording 19 tackles with eight solo stops with a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and a 29-yard interception return against Colorado Mines … his second conference POW award came against Pittsburg State after recording 12 tackles with a tackle for loss and an interception … he earned first team all-MIAA honors and was named Washburn’s outstanding linebacker as well … he recorded double-digit tackles in eight games … earned second team Daktronics all-region honors and Football Gazette first team all-region honors … successful in the classroom as well as he was named to the MIAA’s all-academic team and to the MIAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll … also named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA all-academic all-district first team.

In 2006: A second team Daktronics all-region pick after leading the MIAA and the Ichabods with 100 tackles including 44 solo stops … earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors … finished with 11 tackles for loss with two sacks … returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown against Emporia State and a fumble 72 yards for a touchdown against Northwest Missouri … the 2006 MIAA and Ichabod Freshman of the Year was named to MIAA’s all-academic team … recorded a career-high 16 tackles against Missouri Southern tying him for the fifth highest single-game total since 1997 … named Ichabods’ defensive skill player of the week after the Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern games.

In 2005: Sat out the season as a redshirt.

Background: Football and basketball captain two seasons …?named Most Inspirational Player in 2004 … named all-conference and all-area as a junior and all-conference, all-area, all-metro, all-district, all-Metro Sports Television and first team all-state as a senior after recording 151 total tackles including 120 solo stops with one interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 32 tackles for loss …graduated with a 4.35 GPA which was 11th in his graduation class of 386.

Personal: Born Jan. 31, 1987 … son of Bruce and Jayme Watkins … majoring in finance.