Academic Notes: Majoring in university studies with minors in business and construction management... Big Sky All-Academic selection in 2020... Two-time Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award recipient in 2020 and 2021
Career Achievements
- 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Sky Conference (Second Team)
- 2022 Big Sky Football Preseason All-Conference Team
- 2021 All-Big Sky (Second Team)
- 2021 Phil Steele All-Big Sky (Second Team)
- 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Sky (Second Team)
- 2021 Preseason All-Big Sky
- 2021 Spring All-Big Sky (Unanimous First Team)
Career Highs:
| Statistic |
Total |
Date (Most recent if multiple occasions) |
| Tackles |
14 |
April 17, 2021 vs. Idaho |
| TFL |
1 |
March 21, 2021 at Weber State |
| Fumble Recoveries |
1 |
April 17, 2021 vs. Idaho (Second Time) |
| Interceptions |
1 |
March 21, 2021 at Weber State |
| Pass Breakups |
1 |
April 17, 2021 vs. Idaho (Fifth Time) |
Fall 2021: Continued to lead the back end of Northern Arizona’s defense, starting all 11 games at safety... Named All-Big Sky Second Team by both the conference and Phil Steele... Led the team with 106 tackles, 21st in the FCS and tied for 4th in the Big Sky Conference... Tackle total ranks tied for 4th-most in a single season for a Lumberjack... Added 5 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, 4.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery... Interception total tied for 6th-most by a Lumberjack in a single season and ranked in a tie for sixth in the FCS... Finished with double-digit tackles in eight of 11 games, finishing with a season-high 12 twice against South Dakota and Cal Poly... Picked off passes in 4 games, with 1 against Sam Houston, UC Davis and Montana as well as 2 against Idaho... Picked off a pass at Northern Arizona’s own 6-yard line to secure the Lumberjacks 38-31 victory over the Vandals... Recovered a fumble in the second quarter against Arizona.
Spring 2021: Produced a breakout season for the Lumberjacks, his first after missing the 2019 campaign due to injury... Started all 5 games for the Lumberjacks at safety and led the team with 53 tackles... Added 2.0 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, 2 fumbles recovered and an interception as he earned unanimous All-Big Sky First-Team honors... Led the team in tackles in four of the five games while also finishing with double-digit tackles in four of five... Recovered a fumble at Northern Arizona’s 5-yard line against Weber State to halt a potential scoring drive... Also picked off a pass in the red zone against Weber State, returning it for 18 yards... Added another fumble recovery against Idaho in the season finale, falling on a loose ball on the first drive of the game.
2019: Did not play
Kilgore College (2017-18): Spent two years playing for the Rangers. Finished 2017 with 51 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions... Recorded 88 tackles in 2018, adding five pass breakups and one interception... earned second team all-conference honors as the Rangers finished the season 10-2 with a victory in the Heart of Texas Bowl against Pima Community College...
South Carolina (2016): Redshirted as a walk-on to the Gamecocks roster.
High School: Graduated from Rouse High School in Leander, Texas in 2016... Runner-up for the 2013 Central Texas Newcomer of the Year during his sophomore season... Named all-district three times and was all-state honorable mention in 2013... played in the 2016 Central Texas All-Star game... Recorded 182 total tackles during his three-year varsity career... Intercepted seven passes, with a total of eight passes defended... Also played baseball and competed in track & field for the Raiders.
Personal: Born April 20, 1998... grandfather, Rodger Vest, played football at the Air Force Academy; father, Kevin Best, played at Texas Tech; and great uncle, Jim Vest, played college football at Washington State.
