UNLV: An experienced, highly touted defensive back who competed in the SEC and Big 12 before reuniting with Barry Odom in Las Vegas and competing in spring practice ... Named 2024 Preseason Third Team All-MW by Athlon and Phil Steele ... One of two Longhorns to join the program this season along with WR Casey Cain ... A member of the UNLV Dean’s Honor List in spring 2024, a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in spring 2023 and a two-time SEC Honor Roll member.
2024:
- Named First Team All-Mountain WestÂ
- Named Second Team All-American by College Football Network
- Named a Semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (first from UNLV since 2000)
- Named First Team Midseason All-America – College Football Network
- Named Second Team Midseason All-America – Sports Illustrated, Athlon Sports, The Athletic
- Named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 21)
- Named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
- Scored on a pick-six to help UNLV win season opener at Houston
- Forced a key fumble to help team defeat Oregon State on the road
- Added a QB sack in wins over Oregon State and San Diego State
- Finished with 17 total tackles vs. Syracuse and reached double-digits vs. OSU (10) and Boise State (11) (Oct. 25)
AT TEXAS: A one-year letterwinner in Austin. 2023: Played in eight games with four starts … Had 17 tackles (15 solo), one TFL and one forced fumble … Made his Longhorn debut when he started in the season-opener against Rice … Had a season-high seven tackles (six solo) and one TFL in the win at No. 3 Alabama … Tallied three solo tackles and forced a fumble in the win against Kansas … Recorded one solo in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma before leaving the game due to injury … Saw limited action over the remainder of the season … Named to the preseason watch lists for the Lonestar Player of the Year and Reese’s Senior Bowl ... A fourth team Preseason All-America selection by Athlon ... A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection by Athlon ... Chosen Preseason All-Big 12 Third Team by Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus … Selected to the Comeback Player of the Year watch list.
AT ARKANSAS: Spent three seasons for the SEC school in Fayetteville, playing in 21 total games, starting 16, for the Razorbacks from 2019-22 ... Amassed 159 tackles, 81 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 14 passes defended and three forced fumbles for the Hogs under then-DC Barry Odom. 2022: Started the season opener against Cincinnati and recorded eight tackles prior to being injured and missing the rest of the season … Chosen Preseason First Team All-America by Phil Steele in 2022. 2021: Started the first six games of 2021 before being sidelined by a season-ending injury … Still finished eighth on the team in total tackles (46) with 1.5 TFL and four pass breakups, which tied for third on the team … Carded double-digit tackles (11) and a career-high two interceptions in the season opener against Rice … Recorded eight TT and a pass deflection against Texas … Named a 2021 Preseason Second Team All-American by the Associated Press … Earned a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list in 2021. 2020: Played in all 10 games and started nine at strong safety ... Named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award … Tabbed to the All-SEC First Team by the AP and second team by the coaches … Earned Freshman All-American honors from the FWAA and The Athletic … Garnered Phil Steele Third Team All-American recognition … Logged 99 total tackles, a team-leading 51 solo stops, two TFL, three interceptions, four passes broken up, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles … Tied for the team lead in interceptions and ranked third in total tackles … Averaged 9.9 tackles per game, which tied for the FBS freshman lead and was fourth among all SEC defenders … Only FBS freshman to post at least 95 tackles and at least three interceptions during the regular season … Finished with nine tackles while also forcing a fumble in his first career start against Georgia … Led the team with 14 tackles at No. 13 Auburn … Recorded his first career interception, returning it 35 yards for a touchdown, and also registered nine tackles and a forced fumble against Ole Miss … Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week for his 12 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble against Tennessee … Made 12 tackles and recorded an interception for the second straight game and broke up a career-high two passes at No. 6 Florida … Made a career-high 16 tackles against LSU ... Recorded his sixth 10-plus tackle game of the season, making 10 stops against No. 1 Alabama. 2019: Played in four games as a true freshman in 2019.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2019 graduate of Mansfield Legacy HS ... A four-year varsity letterwinner … Ranked No. 20 in the nation at the safety position by Rivals … Rated 29th overall in the state of Texas according to 247Sports … Played in one game as a senior in 2018 before an injury forced him to miss the rest of the season … A key member on both sides of the ball for the Broncos in 2017, starting at safety and quarterback … Earned four 2017 Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Dallas Morning News, The Fort Worth Star Telegram, Associated Press and District 10-5A … Racked up 101 tackles, three interceptions, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries as a junior … On offense, passed for 1,122 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 1,064 yards and 13 scores … Also lettered in basketball and baseball for the Broncos.
PERSONAL: The son of Phyllis and Sherman Catalon … Brother Kendall Catalon was a wide receiver at Arkansas ... Majoring in sociology at UNLV.
