As a sophomore in 1999, he was named a starter at outside linebacker. He registered 186 tackles (led the nation and set school record), 35 tackles for loss (led the nation and set school record) and 16 sacks (second in the nation and set school record). He set a school record with 27 tackles against the University of South Carolina. He set school records with 4 sacks and 6 tackles for loss against Duke University. He had 10 tackles and received the defensive MVP award against Mississippi State University in the 1999 Peach Bowl. He earned first-team All-ACC, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and second-team All-American honors.