Rod Heard II

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler / NUSports.com

2023 Redshirt Senior:

Played and started in all 13 games, totaling 85 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, four passes broken up and two forced fumbles
Ranked third on the team and 16th in the Big Ten in tackles, led the team in forced fumbles and ranked tied for the fifth in the Big Ten
Named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
Became the first Wildcat to total 85+ tackles, 4.0+ tackles for loss, and 4+ passes broken up since both Godwin Igwebuike and Anthony Walker did so in 2016
Made seven tackles against Rutgers (9/3)
Had seven tackles and his first career solo sack in a win over UTEP (9/9)
Tallied five tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup to help beat Howard (10/7)
Notched an interception and two tackles against Nebraska (10/21)
Recorded a game-high nine tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss against Maryland (10/28)
Made seven tackles and forced one fumble in a win over Wisconsin (11/11)
Accounted for a career-high 13 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass broken up in the last game at Ryan Field against Purdue (11/18)
Had nine tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass broken up in the win over Illinois (11/25)
Totaled a team-high 12 tackles and one fumble recovery in the Las Vegas Bowl victory against Utah (12/23)

2022 Redshirt Junior:

Started all 12 games, recording 67 total tackles and 47 solo tackles — both marks ranked fourth on the team — along with 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, two passes defended and one forced fumble
Recorded his third career pass breakup in a win over Nebraska (8/27)
Made five tackles, four solo, against Duke (9/10)
Notched his first tackle for loss against Miami (OH) (9/24)
Totaled seven tackles, five solo, and one forced fumble at Penn State (10/1)
Posted seven total tackles, four solo, against Wisconsin (10/8)
Recorded a career-high 10 tackles, six solo, and 0.5 sack against Maryland (10/22)
Made six solo tackles against Iowa (10/29)
Totaled six tackles, three solo, against Ohio State (11/5)
Notched a season-high eight solo tackles and tied a career-high 10 total tackles, while also tying for the team lead against Minnesota (11/12)
Posted eight total tackles, six solo, against Purdue (11/19)
Snagged first career interception, totaled five tackles and posted 0.5 sack against Illinois (11/26)

2021 Redshirt Sophomore:

Appeared in all 12 games, starting four
Recorded a career-high eight tackles, including his first-career tackle for loss and first two forced fumbles in a career-day against Duke (9/18)
Recorded four solo tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss against Iowa (11/6)

2020 Redshirt First-Year:

Started his first career game against Maryland (10/24) and recorded a career-high six total tackles
Made another start on the road against Iowa (10/31), totaling two total tackles
Registered one tackle vs. Nebraska (11/7) and vs. Illinois (12/12)
Played in the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State (12/19) and in Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn (1/1/21)

2019 First-Year:

High School:

Three-star prospect verbally committed to Northwestern on March 11, 2018
No. 24 player in the state of Michigan and No. 86 cornerback in the country (247sports)
Three-time letter winner and one-time Team Captain
Registered 49 tackles, six pass break ups and an interception on defense with 1,492 yards rushing, 277 yards receiving and 26 total touchdowns as a senior to earn All-State honors from MLive, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News
Had 30 tackles, nine pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown as a junior and rushed for 1,566 yards and hauled in 302 receiving yards for 27 touchdowns on offense to earn All-State honors from the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News
Two-time team MVP
Ranks fourth in school history in rushing and scoring
Honor Roll Student
Also lettered three times in track and field
Father Roderick played football at Eastern Illinois
Chose Northwestern over Michigan, Purdue, Syracuse, Iowa State, Indiana, Cincinnati and Army