He was named to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and New Haven Register All-State teams in 2004.

Also, he earned All-Conference and All-Area accolades in each of his three final seasons, adding three more letters in basketball and two in track.

As a senior in 2008 he was honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after recorded 40 tackles (29 solo) with four sacks and eight stops for losses and 10 quarterback pressures and deflected four passes.

he started all 13 games at right defensive end and made 18.0 stops for losses and a career-high 60 tackles (41 solos) with five sacks, three pass deflections and four pressures.

The year before, in 2005, he was First-team Freshman All-American honors from The Sporting News and ESPN.com and an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after appearing in 11 games, starting seven, at right defensive end and finishing with 39 tackles (20 solos), 2.5 sacks, five pressures, 7.5 stops for losses and a pair of pass deflections.