Tennessee State University

Awards and Honors:
2022 All-OVC Second Team Defense
2022 OVC All-Newcomer Team

2022: Played in nine games during his first season as a Tiger...finished tied for second on the team with 62 tackles (29 solo, 33 assists)...tallied four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble...tallied a season-high 13 tackles against UT Martin (11/12)...finished with 11 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss at Murray State (10/29)...forced a fumble in the opener at Eastern Washington (9/3)...finished with nine tackles against both Jackson State and Lane College.

2021 (OHIO STATE): Played in three games….collected three tackles and one pass breakup.

2020 (OHIO STATE): Saw action in six games…..finished the season with two tackles, one solo, one assist.

2019 (OHIO STATE): Played in 13 games…recorded 13 tackles, seven solo, six assists, and two interceptions….Interceptions came in back-to-back games against Maryland and Rutgers…notched four pass breakups.

2018 (OHIO STATE): Played in 11 games….recorded one solo tackle.

PERSONAL: Son of Kenneth Pope and Leticia Smith…born April 16.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was the nation’s No. 9-rated inside linebacker according to 247Sports and Rivals…A consensus four-star prospect and the No. 4-ranked overall player in the state of Virginia…Fine all-around athlete who in addition to playing linebacker for Dinwiddie, was also a running back and slot receiver for head coach Billy Mills…Rushed for 1,043 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior and caught 33 passes for 630 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016 to help his team reach the 4A state title game.