Christian Kirksey

20

Class: Junior Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. High School: Hazelwood East

Height / Weight: 6-2 / 220 Position: LB Birthdate: 08/31/1992

Hawk-Item - - Ranked seventh in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.5) in 2011 . . . one of nine true freshman to see action in 2010.

2011 Honors - - Honorable mention linebacker of the Week vs. Iowa State by College Football Performance Awards.

2011 - - Started all 13 games, including first seven at weakside linebacker and final six at outside position . . . recorded 62 solo tackles and 48 assists to share team lead for the season . . . also had five tackles for loss, one QB sack, one interception, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles . . . started at weakside linebacker in 34-7 opening win over Tennessee Tech . . . recorded career-best 10 tackles in opening game, including six solo stops . . . started at weakside linebacker in triple-overtime loss at Iowa State . . . led team with 13 tackles at ISU, including 11 solo stops . . . also had two tackles for loss, a QB sack and pass break-up, along with first caused and recovered fumble, on the same play . . . started at weakside linebacker in 31-27 win over Pittsburgh, while also playing portions of the contest at outside linebacker . . . recorded three solo tackles and five assists vs. Pitt . . . started at weakside linebacker in 45-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . recorded four solo tackles and four assists vs. ULM . . . started at weakside linebacker in 13-3 loss at Penn State . . . recorded six solo tackles and four assists at PSU, along with second forced fumble of the season . . . started at weakside linebacker in 41-31 win over Northwestern, recording five solo tackles and four assists . . . started at weakside linebacker in 45-24 win over Indiana . . . led team with 12 tackles in win over Hoosiers, including seven solo stops, and also had one pass break-up . . . started at outside linebacker in 22-21 loss at Minnesota . . . recorded six tackles at Minnesota, including three solo stops and one tackle for loss . . . started at outside linebacker in 24-16 win over 13th-ranked Michigan . . . recorded five tackles vs. Wolverines, including two solo stops . . . also had first career interception, stopping a Michigan drive in the red zone . . . started at outside linebacker in 37-21 loss to Michigan State . . . recorded team-high nine tackles vs. MSU, including five solo stops and one tackle for loss . . . started at outside linebacker in 31-21 win at Purdue, recording one solo tackle, two asissts and a pass break-up as defense allowed just 282 yards total offense . . . started at outside linebacker in 20-7 loss at Nebraska, recording three solo tackles and career-best seven assists . . . started at outside linebacker in Insight Bowl loss to Oklahoma, recording six solo stops, one assist and one tackle for loss as defense allowed just 275 yards total offense.

2010 - - Saw action in 11 games, recording six assisted tackles . . . saw action in 37-7 opening win over Eastern Illinois, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 35-7 win over Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 34-27 loss at Arizona, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 45-0 win over Ball State, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 112 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 24-3 win over Penn State . . . saw action in 38-28 win at Michigan, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 31-30 loss to Wisconsin, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 37-6 win over fifth-ranked Michigan State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 18-13 win at Indiana, recording one assisted tackle as defense allowed just 91 net rushing yards . . . saw action in 21-17 loss at Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 20-17 loss to Ohio State, recording one assisted tackle . . . saw action in 27-24 loss at Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . did not see action in 27-24 Insight Bowl victory over 12th-ranked Missouri due to injury.

High school honors - - Named Missouri all-American while earning first team all-state honors as a senior . . . was first team all-conference as a senior after earning honorable mention recognition as a junior . . . earned second team all-Metro honors in St. Louis area . . . Career - - two-year letterman as linebacker and fullback . . . collected 163 tackles as a senior, with nine tackles for loss, three QB sacks, two interceptions and one touchdown . . . recorded 89 tackles as a junior, with three tackles for loss, one interception and a QB sack . . . team captain as a senior . . . team won state championship in junior season and returned to playoffs the following year . . . also lettered in track, helping team win state championship as a junior.

Personal - - Born 8/31/92 . . . pre-business major . . . member of prep Honor Roll . . . parents are Patrice and Elmer Kirksey . . . high school coach was Mike Jones.