Western Carolina University

2021 (Redshirt Junior*): Returned from injury to see action in four games on the season, each as a defensive reserve ... Credited with six total tackles including four solo stops and half a tackle for loss coming on a sack ... Had two tackles apiece in the season-opener against Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 4), at Oklahoma (Sept. 11) including combining on a sack, and two solo stops against Samford (Sept. 18) ... Named to the 2021-22 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2020-21 (Junior): Was sidelined with injury, missing the fall and spring games ... Named preseason All-Southern Conference  ... Named to the 2020-21 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

2019 (Sophomore): Played in all 12 games on the season with seven starts at linebacker including six-straight to conclude the regular season … Finished seventh on the team in overall tackles with 51, but led the Catamounts with 11.0 tackles for loss – tied for the fourth-most in the Southern Conference … His five forced fumbles on the season ranked him tied for first in the NCAA FCS … Credited with a tackle in all 12 seasonal games including a career-high eight against Samford (Nov. 16) to accompany two sacks, forcing the football loose for two of his three forced fumbles in the game … Earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18 … Dubbed SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for November after tallying 22 tackles including 11 solo stops and 5.5 tackles for loss with four sacks and four forced fumbles in the month … Named second-team All-Southern Conference by the league’s voting media … Additionally named an honorable mention on the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America team.

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU prior to the spring, 2019 semester after spending the fall semester at Louisburg College ... Participated in WCU's annual Spring Drills … Earned All-Cap 8 Conference honors as a senior as a defensive lineman, playing at end … Was listed as a Top 100 recruit in the state of North Carolina coming out of high school … Was a two-star recruit by 247Sports ... High school coach was Clarence Inscore.

Personal: Is the son of Karen Pauling.