Michael Pinckney

2016 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA (ESPN)

2016 (True Freshman): Delivered dominant freshman season, starting all 13 games and finishing with 61 tackles (33 solo)…Earned Freshman All-America recognition from ESPN…Totaled 7.5 tackles for loss (29 yards) and 2.5 sacks (19 yards)…Added two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one interception…Started and made career debut in season opener against Florida A&M (Sept. 3) and totaled three tackles (two solo)…Led team and tied for game high with nine tackles (six solo) in start vs. FAU (Sept. 10)…Added first 1.5 sacks of career vs. Owls…Started and totaled four tackles in road win at Appalachian State (Sept. 17)…Dominant start against Georgia Tech (Oct. 1) included four tackles (three solo), one sack (eight yards) and first career interception…Added one PBU against Yellow Jackets…Credited with five tackles (four solo), 1.0 TFLs and one PBU against Florida State (Oct. 8)…Totaled six tackles (two solo) and added 1.0 TFLs (two yards) in start against North Carolina (Oct. 15)…Recorded four tackles (three solo) in start at Virginia Tech…Had three solo tackles and 1.0 TFL (one yard) in start at Notre Dame (Oct. 29)…Started and had two tackles and 0.5 TFL in win over Pittsburgh (Nov. 5)…Added four tackles in start at Virginia (Nov. 12)…Started and totaled six tackles (four solo) in win at NC State (Nov. 19)…Totaled seven tackles (one solo) in regular season finale win over Duke (Nov. 26)…Started and finished with four tackles (three solo) and 1.0 TFL (three yards) in Russell Athletic Bowl victory over West Virginia (Dec. 28).

High School: Consensus three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports and Scout…Enrolled in January 2016…19th-best inside linebacker in nation according to 247Sports…Rated No. 20 inside linebacker nationwide by both ESPN and Rivals…Ranked fifth-best inside linebacker in state of Florida by Scout…Named to Florida Times-Union’s Super 24, recognizing top players in region…Two-time All-First Coast selection by Times-Union…Had 85 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, eight sacks and one interception in final season at Raines…Chose Miami over offers from Arkansas, Florida, Louisville, LSU, Nebraska and South Carolina, among others.