Jace Sayler Class: Senior Hometown: McHenry, Ill. High School: McHenry Height / Weight: 6-5 / 295 Position: Defensive Tackle Birthdate: 02/27/1979 Experience: 3L

All-Big Ten candidate anchors the defensive line as the starting left tackle . . . combines with Josh Shaw to give Michigan State arguably the best defensive tackle tandem in the Big Ten . . . had four tackles for losses in the April 8 scrimmage, including three sacks (20 yards) . . .

AS A JUNIOR: Shared the MSU Iron Man Award with linebacker Josh Thornhill for their dedication in the weight room . . . appeared in all 12 games in 1999, including starts in the last four games at left defensive tackle, and played 191 minutes . . . recorded 46 tackles (19 solos, 27 assists), including four tackles for losses (28 yards) and three sacks (24) . . . made three solo stops vs. Florida in the 2000 Florida Citrus Bowl, including one behind the line of scrimmage (4 yards) . . . had seven tackles (2-5) and blocked a field-goal attempt vs. Northwestern . . . credited with seven stops (3-4) vs. Ohio State, including a 9-yard sack . . . registered a season-high eight tackles each vs. Wisconsin (3-5) and Illinois (4-4) . . . also produced two sacks against the Illini (15 yards) . . .

AS A SOPHOMORE: Started all 12 games at left defensive end in 1998 and played 231 minutes . . . thrust into the starting lineup when Dimitrius Underwood went down with a sprained right ankle in preseason camp . . . tied Newkirk for the team lead in tackles among defensive linemen with 61 (26 solos, 35 assists) . . . credited with six tackles for losses (12 yards), including three sacks (9) . . . had six tackles each vs. Illinois (4-2), Minnesota (1-5), Central Michigan (2-4) and Oregon (4-2) . . . produced seven stops (3-4) vs. Northwestern, including one behind the line of scrimmage (1 yard) . . . named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career-high 10 tackles (6-4), including two for losses (2 yards), and recovering a fumble vs. Colorado State . . . played a career-best 31 minutes in the '98 season opener vs. Colorado State . . .

AS A FRESHMAN: Saw action in 11 games as a true freshman in 1997 (DNP vs. Notre Dame), credited with 15 tackles (6 solos, 9 assists) in ‘97 . . . registered three stops (2-1) in his first collegiate start at left defensive end vs. Illinois . . . also had three tackles each vs. Michigan (0-3) and Indiana (2-1) . . . recorded his only sack vs. Indiana (2 yards) . . . played a season-high 39 snaps vs. Michigan . . .

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: ESPN-Magazine Prep All American . . . ranked among the nation's top tight end prospects by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report (No. 7) . . . named to Prep Star's All-Midwest Region Team . . . played in the Illinois North-South Shrine at Chicago Coaches Associate All-Star Games . . . first-team all-state defensive end as a senior . . . had 26 receptions for 548 yards (21.1 avg.) and five touchdowns as a senior . . . recorded 70 tackles in 1996, including 19 for losses and 11 sacks . . . also credited with 45 quarterback hurries . . . first-team all-state tight end . . . caught 30 passes for 581 yards (19.4 avg.) and seven TDs as a junior . . . had nine sacks as a part-time starter on defense in '95 . . . had 10 catches of 127 yards as a sophomore in '94 . . . born Feb. 27, 1979 . . . majoring in parks, recreation and tourism.

Sayler's Career Statistics

Sayler's Career Highs

Tackles: 10, vs. Colorado State (1998)
Tackles for Losses: 2, twice (last vs. Illinois, 1999)
Sacks: 2, vs. Illinois (1999)

Sayler's Game-By-Game Statistics

1997

1998

1999