Panther Plus: Listed behind De'Veon Harris at the middle linebacker slot after spring drills ... registered two tackles for the Purple squad in the spring game.

2007: Redshirted.

High School: Named to the Des Moines Register's Elite All-State team ... earned first-team Class 4A all-state honors from the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Des Moines Register ... first-team all-conference selection on both offense and defense ... member of the Quad City Times first-team all-metro squad ... 2007 Shrine Bowl All-Star game invitee ... third-team all-state as a junior ... state track qualifier in high hurdles as a sophomore and junior ... earned letters in track (4), football (3) and basketball (2) ... high school coach: Dave Jacobsen.

Personal: Born Oct. 14, 1988, in Lubbock, Texas ... son of Quintin and Sue Gerard ... has a brother, Cole, and a sister, Jenna ... biomedical major.