A steady veteran who enters the preseason as the starter at strong safety... Expects to finally get the opportunity to showcase his talents in the Wildcats’ secondary after playing behind All-Big 12 performer Rashad Washington for the past two seasons.

2003 (Junior): Appeared in all 15 games, mainly on special teams... Also served as the primary back-up at strong safety... Totaled seven solo tackles on the year with one each against California (8/23), Troy State (8/30), Texas (10/4), Colorado (10/18), Baylor (11/1), Iowa State (11/8) and Nebraska (11/15).

2002 (Sophomore): Winner of Purple Pride Award as top defensive walk-on... Played in all 13 games... Appeared primarily as a reserve defensive back and on special teams... Made 19 total tackles (13 solo) during the season... Had five tackles (four solo) at Kansas (11/2)... Made three stops (two solo) in a win over Iowa State (11/9)... Posted two tackles against Baylor (10/26), Nebraska (11/16) and Missouri (11/23)... Blocked a punt against the Cornhuskers that resulted in a 17-yard touchdown.

2001: Redshirt season.

Southeast Missouri State (Freshman): Played seven games as a freshman running back in 2000, gaining 400 yards.

Jennings HS: Started and lettered for four seasons... Was an all-state pick for two seasons at running back and as a defensive back... Finished career with 3,761 yards rushing, 880 receiving yards and 45 TDs... On defense, had eight interceptions and had more than 1,000 return yards on special teams... High school coach was Rob Harper... Also lettered three times in track and field, twice in baseball and once in basketball.

Personal: Born March 17, 1982... Parents are Paul and Rochelle Patton... One of 10 siblings... Wife’s name is Amber... A secondary education major.