Western Carolina University

PRONUNCIATION: Ricky PALAO (puh-LAY-oh)

2021 (Fifth Year Senior): Saw action in all 11 of the team's games with four starts at defensive tackle ... Finished with 32 total tackles including 15 solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss with a sack ... Was a pregame team captain twice including the season-opener against Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 4) and at The Citadel (Oct. 23) ... Recorded a season-best nine tackles including a sack in the road win at The Citadel, also recovering a fumble in the road win over the Bulldogs ... Credited with one pass break-up against ETSU (Nov. 13).

2020-21 (Senior): Played in five of the team’s nine games, starting five times along the defensive line … Recorded 16 tackles including two solo stops and half a tackle for loss … Posted a season-high seven tackles at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 21) … Scooped a fumble against the Colonels, returning it 54 yards for a touchdown … Had four tackles including half a stop for loss at ETSU (March 27).

2019 (Junior): Saw action in 10 of WCU’s 12 games on the season with a pair of starts along the defensive line … Finished the year with 17 total tackles including 10 solo stops and 3.5 tackles for loss, sixth on the team, with half a sack … Tallied a season-best four tackles including one for loss at The Citadel (Oct. 12) with three solo stops at home against North Greenville (Sept. 14) … Credited with a pass break-up at N.C. State (Sept. 7) … Aided on a sack against Gardner-Webb (Oct. 5).

2018 (Sophomore): Played in seven games along the defensive front making two starts … Missed the first four games of the season before seeing his first action at Samford (Oct. 6) … Finished with 24 tackles on the season including eight solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss … Posted 1.5 tackles for loss including a sack against Chattanooga (Oct. 13) … Credited with a career-high 11 tackles against The Citadel (Nov. 3)

2017 (Freshman): Played in eight of the team's 12 games on the season as a substitution along the defensive line and on special teams ... Finished the year with six total tackles including four solo stops and one tackle for loss coming against FBS-foe, North Carolina (Nov. 18) ... Made his collegiate debut in the home-opener against Davidson (Sept. 9) ... Recorded his first career tackle against nationally-ranked Samford (Sept. 23) ... Named to the 2017-18 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Western Carolina: Was a part of the Alabama State 7-A high school football championship team as a senior, collecting one of Hoover High's nine sacks in the title game ... Selected to the "Over the Mountain Journal" All-OTM football team ... High school head coach was Josh Niblett.

Personal: Full name is Ricardo A. Palao ... Is the son of Ricardo Palao, Sr., and Neisha Glapion.

Career-Highs:

Tackles: 11, THE CITADEL (11/3/18)

Tackles for Loss: 1.5, CHATTANOOGA (10/13/18)