Jerel Worthy Class: Sophomore Hometown: Huber Heights, Ohio High School: Wayne Height / Weight: 6-3 / 305 Position: DT Experience: 1L

• Career Stats
• 2009 Game-by-Game Statistics

Third-year player enters his second season as the starting defensive tackle . . . has impressed the coaching staff with his quickness and athleticism . . . described by Spartan defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi as "a big, explosive athlete, who has the ability to make plays in the offensive backfield" . . . preseason All-America selection by College Football Insiders (honorable mention) . . . ranked among the nation's top 20 defensive tackles by Phil Steele's College Football Preview (No. 20) . . . preseason All-Big Ten selection by Sporting News (first team), Rivals.com (first team), Blue Ribbon Yearbook (first team) and Phil Steele (second team).

2009 SEASON (RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN): Earned first-team Freshman All-America honors from Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Rivals.com, CollegeFootballNews.com and Sporting News . . . named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as selected by ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Sporting News . . . midseason All-Big Ten first-team selection by Phil Steele . . . started 11 of 13 games in 2009 and ranked second on the team in tackles for loss (9.0 for 34 yards) and sacks (4.5 for 23 yards) . . . produced one tackle for loss in seven straight games during one stretch . . . finished second among defensive linemen in tackles (37: 19 solos, 18 assists) and production points (75) . . . placed sixth on the team in production points and 10th in tackles . . . recorded three tackles, including a half tackle for loss, in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Texas Tech . . . matched his season high with four stops vs. No. 13 Penn State . . . recorded four solo hits at Purdue . . . made four tackles and recovered a fumble at Minnesota . . . registered four stops vs. No. 7 Iowa, including a season-best two tackles for loss (5 yards) . . . posted three tackles, including 1.5 for losses (5 yards), and a career-best two pass break-ups at Wisconsin . . . tallied a season-high 1.5 sacks (8 yards) vs. Central Michigan . . . posted four tackles in his collegiate debut vs. Montana State.

2008 SEASON: Redshirted . . . selected Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week vs. Eastern Michigan.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated among the nation's top defensive tackles by Rivals.com (No. 53), Scout.com (No. 78) and Scouts, Inc. (No. 93) . . . named to SuperPrep's and PrepStar's All-Midwest Teams . . . ranked among Ohio's top 50 seniors by Rivals.com (No. 30) and Scout.com (No. 34) . . . selected to play in the June 14 Big 33 Football Classic (Ohio vs. Pennsylvania) . . . Associated Press Division I All-Ohio and AP Southwest All-District first-team selections as a senior . . . also named to the Ohio News Network (ONN) All-Ohio Team in 2007 . . . two-year starter for Coach Jay Minton at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio . . . recorded 50 tackles, including 10.5 sacks, and 12 quarterback hurries as a senior . . . also credited with seven pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries in 2007 . . . produced 54 tackles, including four sacks, in nine games as a junior . . . played his freshman and sophomore years at Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton, Ohio, before transferring to Wayne . . . son of Stephanie Worthy and Bobby Smith . . . born April 28, 1990 . . . participates in Athletes in Action sports ministry . . . majoring in human development and family studies..