2011 - Junior: Saw action in 12 games, primarily on special teams and in short-yardage situations, making one start ... Started at weak-side guard against Northwestern ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

2010 - Sophomore: Member of UI squad.

2009 - Redshirt Freshman: Played in three games, starting against Purdue ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

2008 - Freshman: Redshirted the 2008 season.

High School: PrepStar Magazine All-American ... Earned first-team AAAA All-State honors from the Associated Press and PAFootballnews.com ... Recorded 84 tackles, two forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles and four passes broken up as a senior ... Rated the No. 20 player in the state of Pennsylvania by Rivals.com ... First-team All-County as an offensive lineman and second team as a defensive lineman ... Earned first-team All-League honors as an offensive lineman, defensive lineman and punter ... Ranked the 33rd-best offensive tackle nationally by Rivals.com ... Named to the East Hot 100 list by Scout.com ... Garnered first-team All-Area accolades for offensive line and punter and second-team as a defensive lineman ... Named to the Harrisburg Patriot News "Platinum 33" team ... Ranked the No. 43 offensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com ... Picked for the Big 33 All-Star game (featuring the best Pennsylvania and Ohio seniors) ... Earned first-team All-League and All-County Academic Team honors ... High school coach was Ron Zeiber.

Personal: Full name is Tyler Adam Sands ... Son of Dawne von Czoernig and Jeff Sands ... Born on Sept. 23, 1989 ... Majoring in psychology ... Chose Illinois over Nebraska and Boston College.

(updated 5/23/12)