Pronunciation: ACK-us

2024 Phil Steele All-America Third Team

2022 Freshman All-American

Two-Time All-Big Ten

2025 Senior

• ESPN Preseason All-American
• Athlon Preseason All-America Third Team
• Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List
• Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• No. 20 overall player in college football according to CBS.com's spring rankings
• No. 2 in the Big Ten in sacks among returners (8.0), behind only Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei (10.5)
• Team-leading 5.0 tackles (four solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks, with a forced fumble in Week 1 victory vs. Western Illinois (8/29/25) 

2024 Junior

• Phil Steele All-America Third Team
• All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches and Media)
• Started all 13 games at outside linebacker
• 74 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery on the season
• 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in six games against ranked teams
• Finished the regular season top-25 nationally in forced fumbles (t-21st, 3) and sacks (t-24th, 8.0)
• Tied for the Big Ten lead in forced fumbles and ranked fifth in sacks during the regular season
• Tied for the second-most sacks in Big Ten games (7.0)
• Finished the season ranked ninth in Illinois history in career sacks (16.0)
• Led the team in tackles for loss (13.0), sacks (8.0), and quarterback hurries (10)
• Ranked second on the team in tackles (74)
• Career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and eight tackles in Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over #14 South Carolina (12/31/24)
• Career-high 13 tackles (six solo) with a career-high 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss, two QB hurries, and fourth-career forced fumble against #24 Michigan (10/19/24)
• Eight tackles (four solo, four assisted) against #9 Penn State (9/28/24)
• Third career forced fumble against #22 Nebraska (9/20/24)
• Second career forced fumble against Central Michigan (9/14/24)
• 2025 Senior Bowl Watch List

2023 Sophomore

• Played in all 12 games with 10 starts (9 at outside linebackers, 1 at defensive line)
• Recorded 2.0 sacks, including a third-down stop in overtime that forced an Indiana field goal and set up the Illini’s opportunity for a game-winning TD in the 48-45 win
• Season-most five tackles (all solo) at Purdue (9/30/23)
• Notched first sack of 2023 season (fifth of career) vs. #7 Penn State (9/16/23)
• Only returning Big Ten West player that earned FWAA Freshman All-American honors in 2022
• Ranked #69 on The Athletic's Freaks List 
• Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team
• Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team

2022 Freshman

• FWAA Freshman All-American, the second in Illinois history (Akeem Spence) and the first ever Illini true freshman to earn the honor
• ESPN True Freshman All-American
• 247Sports True Freshman All-American
• College Football News True Freshman All-American
• All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)
• Illinois’ Rookie of the Year Award winner
• Played in all 13 games as a true freshman with eight starts at outside linebacker
• 35 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and five quarterback hurries on the season
• No. 2 in Illinois history in sacks by a true freshman behind only Simeon Rice
• Tied for 12th in the nation in quarterback hits (13), according to PFF
• Tied for the national lead in quarterback hits among freshman (13), according to PFF
• Fourth on the team in sacks (4.0)
• Fifth on the team in TFLs (5.0)
• Career highs in sacks (2.0) and TFLs (2.0) against Virginia 9/10/22
• Career-high and team-high eight tackles, including 1.0 sack, against Chattanooga 9/22/22
• 247Sports Midseason True Freshman All-American
• The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American
• On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American
• 2.0 sacks vs. Virginia, the first Illini true freshman with 2.0 sacks in a game since Bobby Roundtree vs. Western Kentucky in 2017

High School 

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, On3, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #60 (247), #70 (On3)
• State ranks: #116 (On3), #135 (247)
• Played for head coach Mike Watkins at Fort Pierce Central
• State champion and all-state wrestler
• 2021-22 TCPalm Male Athlete of the Year
• Offers included Georgia Southern, FIU, Mississippi State, South Florida, Tennessee, and Tulane

Personal

• Born May 27, 2004
• Brother, Khaliq, played football at FIU
• Majoring in community health