Abdel Banda Class: Senior Hometown: Morristown, NJ High School: Delbarton Height / Weight: 6-1 / 220 Position: Linebacker Birthdate: 11/14/1986

CAREER: Talented player who figures to make a significant impact at linebacker this season ... emerged as a contender for a starting position during spring practice ... has good speed and range ... made two tackles in the 2005 Blue-Gold Game.

2004 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action as a rookie linebacker in 2004.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: The Delbarton School in Orange, N.J. ... finished his senior season with 45 tackles, 10 for losses, and two sacks on a team that went 8-3 and made it to the second round of New Jersey state playoffs ... won all-league honors at linebacker and played some as running back in 2003 ... made 75 tackles, six sacks, caused two fumbles and recovered another as a junior outside linebacker while also playing as a defensive end in 2002 ... moved to the United States from Ghana at age 11 and did not play organized football until he was a freshman in high school ... from the same high school as former Notre Dame basketball All-American Troy Murphy ... formerly a standout soccer player ... won the 2004 conference indoor track title in the 50 meters (6.86) ... also won the 2003 league outdoor title in the 100 meters (11.2) ... full name is Abdel Banda ... born Nov. 14, 1986 in Accra, Ghana ... one of three children of Hilda Diawuo ... enrolled in the Medoza College of Business.