2012: Redshirted ... named the scout team player of the year after the season.
Lincoln Way East HS: Multi-year starter for head coach Rob Zvonar ... named the Gatorade Illinois Football Player of the Year by ESPNHS ... named a Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) Class 7A First-Team All-State selection ... also named an IHSFCA All-State Academic Team selection ... Chicago Tribune Second-Team All-State pick ... Chicago Sun-Times All-State Special Mention recipient ... earned conference offensive player of the year plaudits and all-area selections from the Herald-News and the Southtown Star ... completed 131-of-213 pass attempts for 2,369 yards and 30 touchdowns against just five interceptions as a senior in 2011 ... led the Griffins (10-1) to the second round of the IHSA Class 7A playoffs ... as a junior in 2010, started all 11 games and threw for 1,929 yards and 21 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 197.0 ... named an honorable mention all-state selection as named by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times after junior season ... also selected as an all-conference and all-area pick ... concluded his career as Lincoln Way-East's leading passer, throwing for 4,297 yards and 51 touchdowns while leading his team to a 19-3 record during junior and senior seasons.
Personal: Born September 9, 1993, in Winfield, Ill. ... son of Jade and Yvonne Winkler ... has two siblings, Austin and Logan ... his father, Jade, graduated from Illinois State in 1978 ... a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Pi Sigma Pi history honor society and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics society ... plans to major in business administration.
