2023 Freshman

• Did not play in a game and redshirted the season

High School

• Played for head coach Jason Dumont at Regina High School 
• Three-year letter winner in football (2020-22)
• Two-time first-team all-district
• District Defensive MVP as a senior in 2022
• Lettered four seasons in wrestling, and was a two-time all-state and all-conference selection
• 2022 Academic Award recipient

Personal

• Born on Nov. 3, 2004
• Son of Jim and Mary Poynton
• Two brothers, Seamus and Conlan
• Father, Jim, played football at Iowa and his mother, Mary, swam at Iowa and Clemson
• Brother, Seamus, wrestled collegiately at Wartburg College
• Also had three uncles that played college football and a cousin that played college softball
• Chose Illinois because, “Of the connections made with my parents and Coach B, the hospitality and love the staff showed me, the PWO offer that was given to me, and my faith”
• Majoring in recreation, sport, and tourism