He played college football for the San Jose State Spartans and was named the 2022 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year prior to being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

He attended Saint Francis High School, where he played as a tight end for their football team.

[3] As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he was named the starter at left defensive end, recording 44 tackles (3 for loss), one sack, and 4 pass deflections (tied for second on the team).

[7][8] As a senior in 2022, he started in all 12 games, posting a career-high 69 tackles (third on the team), 19 tackles for loss (fifth in the nation), 9 sacks (led the team), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one deflected pass.

[16] In training camp, he was tried at defensive tackle, but struggled with a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

[17][18] He didn't play a single snap in the regular season, spending 10 games on the inactive list and 7 on injured reserve.

He couldn't move up on the depth chart despite the fact that the Cowboys lost defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency.