Biography
CAREER: Named first ever student-athlete from USF to attend the NFL Scouting Combine...was among 338 prospects and five other DII athletes but only NSIC rep...first player from the NSIC invited to the NFL Combine since current Arizona Cardinals standout Zach Moore of Concordia St. Paul (teammates of former USF All-American Dennis Gardeck), in 2013...three-time All-NSIC selection and five time All-American (three postseason, two preseason in 2018)...received rave reviews when he participated in the 94th annual East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 19 in St. Petersburg, Fla...USF sports management graduate (2018) from USF who played a key role as USF earned three postseason berths and compiled a 37-11 overall record during his time with the USF program...finished third in the balloting for the Upshaw Award (DII Offensive Lineman of the Year), and was earlier named to the D2Football.com (first team), and Associated Press (first team) and the D2CCA (second team) All-American teams...in 2018, selected one of four team captains for USF...named to the D2Football.com and The Podyum preseason All-American teams....In 2018, graded at 91.7 percent (651 positive reps in 710 plays) with 90.5 knockdowns....had 234.5 knockdowns in 43 career starts, allowed just one sack this year and two in his career... two-time Academic All-NSIC performer....in 35 different games, been part of an offensive line that produced 38 total 100-yard rushers, including nine times in 2017 and 15 times in 2018...blocked for two backs (Max Mickey, 1,764 yards, 19 TDs, 3rd DII, 2016; Gabriel Watson, 1,957 yards, 2nd in DII, 26 TDs, 1st in DII, 2018) that rushed for more than 1,700 yards in season.
2018: Named first team all-league for the first time on one of the league's top offensive line units. USF, which ranked fifth in the league in scoring at 33.8 points per game, led the NSIC and ranked fifth in NCAA DII in rushing at 274.2 yards per game...team ranked seventh nationally in yards per play (6.98), led the NSIC in total offense and ranked 14th in NCAA DII with 466.5 yards per game...blocked for Harlon Hill Award finalist Gabriel Watson, who led the nation in rushing yards per game (177.9 yards per game) and rushing touchdowns (26)...finished third in the balloting for the Upshaw Award (DII Offensive Lineman of the Year), and was earlier named to the D2Football.com (first team), and Associated Press (first team) and the D2CCA (second team) All-American teams...in 2018, selected one of four team captains for USF...named to the D2Football.com and The Podyum preseason All-American teams....In 2018, graded at 91.7 percent (651 positive reps in 710 plays) with 90.5 knockdowns...had a 90 percent grade in 10-of-11 games with a season-high of 96 percent vs Minot State and graded 94.5 percent against Wayne State, 92.4 percent vs No. 1 Minnesota State and 92.1 percent from Winona State, both road games. .
2017: Named All-NSIC second team...selected to the Academic All-NSIC squad...had 777 positive snaps on 858 reps and a 90.6 percent grade for the 9-3 playoff squad....part of offense that ranked fifth in the NSIC in total offense at 381.1 yards per game, including 190.3 rushing yards...allowed just one sack while recording a team-best 95 knockdowns....in 8-of-12 games, registered a grade of 90 percent or better...graded over 90 percent in final four games and five of last six contests...four times had double digit knockdowns with a career-best 13 vs U-Mary on Sept. 16 while grading at 91.78 percent with 67 positive reps on 73 plays...also had a 85.07 percent grade with seven knockdowns on 67 plays and 57 positive reps in win over No. 8 Minnesota Duluth on August 31...had a 92.66 percent grade with seven knockdowns on 65 positive reps in 70 plays in victory over Northern State on Sept. 9....recorded 93.06 percent grade with 67 positive reps on 72 plays with nine knockdowns vs. Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 23...registered an 87.0 percent grade with five knockdowns on 67 positive reps in 77 plays in win at SMSU on Sept. 30...registered a 89.33 percent grade with 67 positive reps on 75 plays and five knockdowns in loss to No .22 Winona State on Oct. 7...graded 90 percent with 10 knockdowns and allowed only sack of the season with 63 positive reps in 70 plays in win at Wayne State on Oct. 12...had a 88.16 percent grade with 11 knockdowns with 67 positive reps in 76 plays in win over Concordia St. Paul on Oct. 21...in "Key to the City" win on Oct. 28, graded a season-high 94.44 percent with 12 knockdowns and 68 positive reps on 72 plays...had a 91.55 percent grade with nine knockdowns on 65 positive reps in 71 plays in win over Upper Iowa on Nov. 4...against No. 1 Minnesota State had 63 positive reps in 69 plays for a 91.3 percent grade and two knockdowns...in 24-20 NCAA DII playoff loss to Midwestern State was effective with a 92.4 percent grade on 66 plays and 61 positive reps...had five knockdowns in playoff game.
2016 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Named All-NSIC second team...Fselected USF's "Most Improved Player" in 2016...started in 10 games for NSIC champs, including both NCAA DII playoff games with Azusa Pacific (34-21 win) and Harding (27-24 OT loss)...played key role for NSIC top rushing team, which ranked third nationally at 308.1 yards per game...part of offensive line that paved way for All-American Max Mickey to rush for a school record 1,764 yards, which ranked third nationally, and 8.6 yards per carry, which led the nation...also helped two others rush for over 800 yards (Luke Papilion, 987 yards, 7.5 yards per carry; Justin Fulks, 812 yards, 6.5 yards per carry)...part of offense that had second best total in school history with 6,647 yards, 511.3 per game for seventh in DII and school record 4,005 rushing yards...also helped USF rank 17th nationally in scoring at 39 points per game...graded out at 92.4 percent on 909 reps...allowed just one sack...recorded 39.5 knockdowns...graded out at 89 percent against MSUM while recording career-high 7.5 knockdowns...had a career-best 96.6 percent grade on 59 reps with two knockdowns...graded out above 95 percent three times, including 95.5 percent with four knockdowns against Southwest Minnesota State... 95.3 percent against St. Cloud State while recording two knockdowns...graded out at 94.8 percent against Augustana with three knockdowns...had an 89 percent grade and four knockdowns against Concordia St. Paul...against Upper Iowa graded out at 92.1 percent with 5.5 knockdowns, second most in career...had a 92.3 percent grade vs. Wayne State...had two knockdowns and a 93.5 percent grade in playoff win over Azusa Pacific and had a 90.7 grade with two knockdowns against Harding...in total graded at 90 percent or better seven times.
2015 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): appeared in 10 games… recorded a 90.6% grade average... allowed zero sacks and 12 knockdowns...recorded three tackles… all solo tackles.
2014:Â Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout offensive lineman for head coach Chad Clendening at Apple Valley (Minn.) High School…helped the Eagles to a 6-6 record, sectional crown and berth in the 2013 Minnesota Boys State Football Playoffs as a senior…caught a TD in Apple Valley’s 28-0 shut out of Minneapolis Washburn in the 2013 section tournament…part of an offensive line that cleared a path to a new program record for most consecutive games with 150 rushing yards…Apple Valley went 8-3 in 2012 after winning just one game in 2011 to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time in 19 years…won the starting left tackle spot as a junior and helped quarterback Tommy Singer set school records for passing yardage and touchdown passes…played basketball for the Eagles which defeated Park Center 74-57 in the 2012-13 Class 4A title game…also competed in track and field.
PERSONAL: Parents are James and Trisha Pipkins…has one older sister, Jaryn, who is a year older, and the two share the same birthday (Sept. 5)...sports management major…Eagle Excellence award winner who volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and Apple Valley’s youth athletic organization.
