LB 6-2, 240, Sr. Evanston, WY / Utah State At BYU JUNIOR - (2006): Earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors ... played in all 13 games for the Cougars ... credited with 36 tackles, including 15 solo and 21 assisted takedowns ... had 3.5 tackles for a combined loss of 12 yards ... had two sacks for nine yards ... credited with two interceptions ... a significant contributor on a defensive unit that gave up only 14.7 points per game, ranking 10th nationally ... part of a defense that ranked fourth nationally in turnover margin with +14 turnover margin (+1.08 pg). REDSHIRT - (2005): Redshirted the 2005 season after transferring from Utah State. Before BYU Was a first-team all-state selection as a senior after earning second-team all-state honors as a junior ... helped team to the state championship as a sophomore ... played both linebacker and tight end ... also played basketball and competed in track ... was an all-state selection in both of those sports as well, winning the state championship in the discus his senior year (162-10). Personal Born in Evanston, Wyo. ... son of Dennis and Vicki Poppinga ... has three sisters and two brothers ... brother, Casey, was a starting tight end for Utah State who enjoyed a career in the NFL playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and 2004 NFC Champions Philadelphia Eagles ... brother, Brady, was an All-MWC performer at BYU and currently plays for the Green Bay Packers ... served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Guayaquil, Ecuador ... wife's name is Rebekah. Other College Saw action as a backup linebacker as well as on special teams as a true freshman in 2003 ... recorded five tackles on the year, while missing four games in the middle of the season due to an injury ... had one tackle for loss ... recovered a fumble against Nebraska ... ranked third on the Utah State roster with 61 tackles as a sophomore (2004) ... credited with 31 solo tackles ... credited with five tackles for a combined loss of 22 yards ... posted on sack for an eight yard loss. Statistics Yr Solo Ast Total TFL/Yds Sacks/Yds Int/Yds PBU QBH FR FF 2006 15 21 36 3.5/12 2/9 2/33 1 1 0 0 http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=10749
I'm tellin you, this kid is not only gonna make the roster, but really be chomping on the heals of some of those ahead of him on the roster. Hated seeing him in College as he regularly had career days against my Lobo's, but the kid can flat out play, and hustle's very similar to MLB we recently lost to Dallas.