West Virginia University Athletics

2024 (Sr.)

• Started all 13 games at the Spur position
• Ranked No. 19 nationally for fumbles recovered
• Finished with 56 tackles, including 20 solo stops, 1.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, one interception, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
• Posted a pair of stops in the Frisco Bowl against Memphis
• Added five tackles and a tackle for loss at Texas Tech
• Totaled four tackles, an assisted tackle for loss and a pass breakup against UCF
• Tallied five assisted tackles and two pass breakups at Baylor
• Recovered a fumble at Cincinnati and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown; finished with seven tackles
• Assisted on a tackle for loss and finished with three tackles at Arizona
• Posted three stops against Kansas State
• Added four tackles and a tackle for loss against Iowa State
• Finished with five stops and a tackle for loss at Oklahoma State
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Kansas)
• Big game against Kansas included seven tackles, an interception and the game-sealing, strip-sack forced fumble in the waning seconds of regulation
• Posted his first sack and pass breakup of the season at Pitt
• Added four tackles, including two solos and an assist on a tackle for loss, against UAlbany
• Tallied three tackles in the season opener against Penn State

2023 (Jr.)

• Played in 12 games at bandit end
• Saw action on 324 defensive snaps, including being used on 20 or more snaps every game and had a season-high 35 plays against Texas Tech
• Finished with 22 tackles, including 14 solo stops, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, one interception and one pass breakup
• Recorded three solo tackles, including a tackle for loss and his first interception of the season in which he returned for 24 yards against North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl
• Finished with two tackles against BYU
• Season-high five tackles, including a season-high 1.5 tackles for loss and a season-high four solo tackles against Oklahoma State
• Registered three tackles, including assisting on a sack at Houston
• Had a seven-yard sack, along with three tackles at TCU
• Finished with a solo tackle against Texas Tech
• Recorded a nine-yard sack against Pitt; also had two tackles and a pass breakup
• Had a solo tackle at Penn State

2022 (So.) – Abilene Christian

• Played for coach Keith Patterson at Abilene Christian
• Earned All-WAC First Team honors
• Helped Abilene Christian finish 7-4 and make an appearance in the WAC Championship Game
• Saw action in 11 games and was used on 622 snaps
• Second-leading tackler on the team with 49 tackles, including 19 unassisted tackles
• Led the team in sacks (4), tackles for loss (10.5) and quarterback hurries (14)
• Also had a forced fumble and a pass breakup
• Tied season-high 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries against Stephen F. Austin in the WAC Championship game
• Finished with a sack, 1 1/2 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries against Sam Houston State
• Registered five tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry against North Dakota
• Had four tackles, including three unassisted, a sack, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry against Utah Tech
• Finished with three tackles, including a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against Stephen F. Austin
• Earned WAC Player of the Week honors after finishing with a season-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry against Prairie View A&M
• Had six tackles, including four solo stops, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup at Missouri
• Registered five tackles and had two quarterback hurries against Lamar

2021 (Fr.) - Abilene Christian

• Appeared in seven games and saw action on 93 plays
• Finished with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, assisted on a sack and had a tackle for loss
• Made his season debut against SMU
• Season-high three tackles and assisted on a sack against Lamar
• Had two tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss against UT Permian Basin
• Finished with a solo tackle against Eastern Kentucky
• Registered two tackles against Louisiana College

High School

• Played for coach Wayne Hutchinson at Monterey High
• Used at quarterback and defensive end
• Saw action in eight games as a senior due to injuries, finishing with 30 tackles, including 15 unassisted tackles, eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss
• Earned all-district honorable mention as a senior and all-district first team as a junior
• As a junior, registered 50 tackles, including six sacks and 10 tackles for loss

Personal

• Son of Antonio Ward Sr. and Reshaunda Pinkard
• One of three children (1 brother, 1 sister)
• Majoring in integrated studies