CAREER: Pass-rushing specialist who led UM in sacks as a sophomore in2003…Excellent athlete who can create havoc for opposing offensive tackles…Former walk-on track athlete who was awarded a scholarship at the endof 2003 spring practice…Speed-rush end impressed coaches with his work onthe scout team as a football walk-on…Has an explosive first step and the strengthto work past opposing tackles…Liberal arts major.
2004 (JUNIOR): Pass-rushing end totaled 22 tackles (10 solo), four tackles forloss, 10 QB pressures, two sacks and two forced fumbles…Played in all 12games, starting the first two games of the season…Started at right defensiveend and made 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 3 QB pressures in the seasonopener vs. Florida State…Started at right end and made 1 tackle, 1 tackle forloss and 2 QB pressures vs. Louisiana Tech…Played as a reserve at Houstonand made 3 tackles…At Georgia Tech, made 2 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QBpressure and 1 forced fumble…Played as a reserve against Louisville andmade 1 tackle…Registered 2 tackles and 2 QB pressures at NCState…Played as a reserve but recorded no tackles at NorthCarolina…Registered 4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss vs. Clemson…Made 4tackles at Virginia…Made 3 tackles and 2 QB pressures vs. WakeForest…Collected 2 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble,vs. Virginia Tech…Had a big game in the Peach Bowl vs. Florida. Did not startbut saw considerable action, making 2 sacks of Chris Leak, 2 QB pressuresand 1 forced fumble.
2003 (SOPHOMORE): Made three starts and played in all 13 games…recorded 22 tackles (16 solos)…led the team in sacks with eight (53), including a four-sack game against Rutgers…had one pass breakup and nine quarterback hurries…also forced a fumble…made his first career start against Louisiana Tech, registering one sack…also started against Florida recording two solo tackles…recorded a season-high five tackles, including one sack, against Boston College…made two tackles against West Virginia…had one solo tackle at Florida State…registered three tackles (one solo), while recording one sack for six yards and two quarterback hurries against Temple…turned in one of the best sack days in UM history with four sacks for minus-26 yards against Rutgers…he also forced a fumble and added a quarterback hurry against the Scarlet Knights…followed his performance against Rutgers with one sack for minus-7 yards in UM’s 28-14 win at Pittsburgh to clinch the Big East title and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
HIGH SCHOOL: Miami Springs…was a standout defensive end who earned his team’s Most Valuable Player Award as a senior…played in the Miami-Dade v. Broward All-Star Game…an honorable mention All-Dade County selection…earned All-District honors as a senior…made 85 tackles and 22 quarterback sacks as a senior…caused five fumbles and recovered four fumbles as a senior…best game as a senior was a 13-tackle (with four quarterback sacks) outing against Miami Northwestern…also played basketball and ran track…coached by Buddy Goins.
NANTON’S CAREER STATISTICS
| |
TACKLES |
FUMBLES |
| Year |
G-S |
TT |
UT |
AT |
TFL |
QBH |
SACKS |
FF |
FR |
PBU |
Int. |
| 2003 |
13-3 |
22 |
16 |
6 |
8-53 |
9 |
8-53 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0-0 |
| 2004 |
12-2 |
24 |
12 |
12 |
7-21 |
12 |
3-24 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0-0 |
| Totals |
25-5 |
46 |
28 |
18 |
15-74 |
21 |
11-77 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0-0 |
