 He played football and basketball at Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington, although he did not pick up football until his junior season.In 2002, he earned two football letters, in addition to being named the Seamount League Defensive Player of the Year.He played in 36 games (25 starts), posting 116 tackles, (19 for losses) and 8.5 sacks in four seasons at Washington State and was named WSU's Leon Bender Award winner as Cougars' Defensive Lineman of the Year as senior when he started 11 games at defensive tackle and one at defensive end.