Denzel Drone Class: Junior Hometown: Plant City, Fla. High School: Plant City Height / Weight: 6-2 / 262 Position: TE/DE Experience: 2L

Career Stats | Game-by-Game Statistics: 2010 | 2011

CAREER NOTES: Third-year player has seen time in the rotation at defensive end his first two seasons . . . has 28 tackles (5.0 for losses) in 26 career games, including six starts . . . will make the transition to tight end during spring practice.

2011 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in all 14 games, including two starts (Central Michigan, Wisconsin) . . . collected 15 tackles, including 4.0 for losses (12 yards) and 2.5 sacks (8 yards) . . . ranked 11th on the team with 71 production points during the regular season . . . tied a career high with three tackles in the 2012 Outback Bowl win over No. 18 Georgia, including one for a 4-yard loss . . . recovered a fumble at the MSU 3-yard line to prevent a Northwestern scoring drive in the second quarter; the Spartans took the ensuing possession 97 yards to give them the lead for good in the 31-17 victory over the Wildcats; also had two tackles and a pass break-up at Northwestern . . . recorded his first career interception and collected two tackles, including one for a 5-yard loss, in victory over Indiana . . . had a 2-yard tackle for loss against Minnesota . . . had a half tackle for loss at No. 13 Nebraska . . . forced an intentional grounding call against Russell Wilson of Wisconsin in the end zone and was credited with a half sack on the play, which resulted in a safety; credited with three tackles overall against the Badgers . . . collected two tackles and had two quarterback hurries in the season opener against Youngstown State.

2010 SEASON (RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN): Appeared in 12 games in 2010, including four starts (vs. Western Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Northern Colorado and Wisconsin) . . . sat out the Minnesota game with a foot injury . . . credited with 13 tackles (4 solos, 9 assists) . . . produced a season-best three tackles at Northwestern . . . recorded two tackles vs. No. 11 Wisconsin, including a forced fumble and 22-yard sack on the same play . . . registered two stops each vs. Florida Atlantic and Notre Dame.

2009 SEASON: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Ranked among the nation's top rush defensive ends by Max Emfinger Recruiting (No. 12) . . . rated among the country's top strongside linebackers by Scouts.com (No. 64) . . . listed among the nation's top outside linebackers by Rivals.com (No. 75) . . . represented the East Team in the 2008 Hillsborough County All-Star Game . . . three-year starter at Plant City (Fla.) High School where he played for Kevin Kelley (2006-07) and Jason Strunk (2008) . . . spent two seasons at defensive end before moving to outside linebacker for his senior year . . . two-time honorable mention All-Hillsborough County selection by The Tampa Tribune . . . earned second-team All-Western Conference (Federal Division) honors as a senior . . . posted 22 tackles, including six sacks, and two interceptions in 2008 . . . also recovered five fumbles as a senior . . . made five stops each vs. Blake and Newsome . . . had three tackles plus forced and recovered two fumbles in a 12-9 victory over Riverview . . . had two catches for 20 yards as a tight end in 2008 . . . returned a kickoff 50 yards vs. Brandon . . . first-team All-Western Conference (Federal Division) selection as a junior after recording 93 tackles, with 46 resulting in losses including 11 sacks . . . named Plant City's Co-Outstanding Defensive Player in 2007 . . . also credited with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a junior . . . caught two passes for 36 yards in 2007 . . . averaged 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists for Coach Dale Chambers during the Raiders' 2007-08 basketball season . . . son of Damandyln Drone . . . born March 9, 1990 . . . family community services major.

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 3, vs. Northwestern (10/23/10)
Sacks: 1, vs. Wisconsin (10/2/10)