In the 2004 season, he was an All-MIAA second-team choice in his first year at Northwest Missouri. He started twelve games at right defensive end and recorded 48 tackles (19 solos) with 8.5 sacks and 13 stops for losses. He also caused and recovered a fumble and had a pair of pass deflections. In 2005, as a senior, he started fourteen games at right defensive end, recording 58 tackles (38 solos) with a team-high 16.5 stops for losses and five quarterback pressures. He set a school single-season record, and ranked 13th in the nation, with 12.5 sacks, caused a fumble, blocked a kick, and deflected four passes. As a result, he was named First-team All-Mid–America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, was the league's Defensive MVP, was named to the All-Southwest Region team, and earned College-division All-American First-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association. He was also a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the best lineman in the small college ranks.