GAMES/STARTS (regular season, playoffs) 2006 (1/0-Mia.), 2007 (11/0), 2008 (16/2, 1/1), 2009 (13/0, 2/0), 2010 (8/0), 2011 (16/0), 2012 (16/1, 1/0) Total- 81/3, 4/1 (80/3, 4/1-Minn., 1/0-Mia.).
- • Notched 1st career sack when he caught Giants QB Eli Manning at NY Giants (11/25/07).
- • Stepped into starting lineup in 2008 in the final 2 regular season games and playoff game for injured Pat Williams.
OFF THE FIELD Majored in exercise and sports science with a minor in business administration at Texas State...Active with Vikings Victory Visits, the Vikings blood drive and Salvation Army events...Uncle and cousin of Major League Baseball players Gary Matthews, Sr. and Gary Matthews, Jr....Sister, Aja Evans, was an All-America, Big Ten champion and set school record in shot put for Illinois.
GAMES/STARTS (regular season, playoffs) 2006 (1/0-Mia.), 2007 (11/0), 2008 (16/2, 1/1), 2009 (13/0, 2/0), 2010 (8/0), 2011 (16/0), 2012 (16/1, 1/0) Total- 81/3, 4/1 (80/3, 4/1-Minn., 1/0-Mia.).
- • Notched 1st career sack when he caught Giants QB Eli Manning at NY Giants (11/25/07).
- • Stepped into starting lineup in 2008 in the final 2 regular season games and playoff game for injured Pat Williams.
OFF THE FIELD Majored in exercise and sports science with a minor in business administration at Texas State...Active with Vikings Victory Visits, the Vikings blood drive and Salvation Army events...Uncle and cousin of Major League Baseball players Gary Matthews, Sr. and Gary Matthews, Jr....Sister, Aja Evans, was an All-America, Big Ten champion and set school record in shot put for Illinois.
PRO Played in all 16 games in 2011 for the 2nd time in his career...Had career-high 35 tackles in 2011...Excelled in 2009 playoff action for the Vikings, notching 10 tackles, 6 QB hurries, 2 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in 3 career playoff games...Replaced injured DT Pat Williams in 2008 for the final 2 regular season games and Wild Card playoff game...Notched 1st career sack at NY Giants (11/25/07) when he caught eventual Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning...Helped 2007 and 2008 Vikings rank #1 in the NFL against the run.
2012 Posted career-best 2.0 sacks during the season, catching Jay Cutler at Chicago (11/25) and Matt Schaub at Houston (12/23)...Helped preserve a goal-line stand at Houston with his sack in an upset win over the playoff-bound Texans...Had consecutive 4-tackle games at Chicago (11/25) and at Green Bay (12/2)...Saw action in 4th career playoff game at Green Bay (1/5/13) in Wild Card round...Notched season-best 5 tackles in playoff game...Played in all 16 games for the 2nd straight season.
2011 Had career-best 35 tackles and played in all 16 games...Notched 3+ tackles in 6 games during the season...Set career-high with 6-tackle performances in consecutive games at Chicago (10/16) and vs. Green Bay (10/23)...Notched season-high 3 QB hurries vs. Chicago (1/1/12) and 2 tackles for loss vs. Oakland (11/20).
2010 Played in 8 games as part of interior line rotation...Had tackles for loss in consecutive games at New England (11/7) and vs. Arizona (10/31)...Posted 2 tackles against Patriots.
2009 Saw action in 13 games during the regular season and both playoff games...Had career-high 6 tackles in Divisonal Round playoff game vs. Dallas (1/17/10) along with 5 QB hurries...Tied for team-high with 5 QB hurries in Dallas game...Had 2 tackles at St. Louis and vs. NY Giants during regular season.
2008 Started final 2 regular season games and Wild Card Playoff game vs. Philadelphia (1/4/09) in place of injured Pro Bowler Pat Williams...Recovered a fumble in Wild Card game when he pounced on a fumble by Eagles QB Donovan McNabb forced by DE Jared Allen...Played in all 16 games for 1st time in career...Helped Vikings rank #1 in rushing defense for 3rd straight season, the 1st team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to accomplish the feat...Part of Vikings defense that did not allow a 100-yard rusher all season.
2007 Played in 11 games as part of the Vikings defensive line rotation...Sacked eventual Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning in game at NY Giants (11/25) during the Vikings upset win...Had career-best 2 tackles vs. Philadelphia (10/28)...Played in opener vs. Atlanta (9/9), his 1st action as a Viking.
2006 Played in 1 game for Miami during his rookie season, suiting up for the season finale at Indianapolis (12/31)...Had 2 tackles in his lone appearance of the season...Inactive for the opening 15 games of the season...Entered the NFL as a 7th-round pick by the Dolphins, #207 overall.
COLLEGE Finished his career with 2 seasons at Texas State where he was a full-time starter...Named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...Tabbed as a 1st-Team All-Southland player as a junior and senior...Competed in Hula Bowl all-star game following his senior year...Helped Bobcats advance to NCAA Division I-AA playoffs as a senior, moving to the semifinals...Named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2004 in his 1st season at Texas State...Transferred to TSU from College of DuPage, a junior college in Glen Ellyn, IL.
PREP Was a 2-way starter on the line at Morgan Park High in Chicago...Played 1 season of varsity high school football as a senior...Excelled at swimming and water polo.
