2015: Appeared in seven contests … Pitched a total of 5.2 innings and struck out two over the course of his freshman season …P itched a scoreless inning and struck out one against Michigan (5/8) … Recorded a shutout inning against the Kansas Jayhawks (5/5) … Threw a scoreless sixth inning against Georgetown (3/8).

High School: Two-year letterwinner at Mount Carmel ... Helped lead the Caravan to a 2013 Illinois High School Association 4A state championship ... Won combined 10 games and posted a 2.89 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 82.2 IP as a junior and senior ... 2014 Perfect Game All-Central Region honorable mention ... Threw a no-hitter as a freshman in 2011 against Whitney Young ... Four-year starter and team captain for Caravan hockey team ... 2014 Illinois State Scholar ... National Honor Society member.

Personal: Born Richard James Fordon on 5/19/96 ... Son of Rich and Julie Fordon ... Father played college football at Western Michigan and mother ran track in college ... Attended same high school as former NFL All-Pros Donovan McNabb and Simeon Rice ... Chose Northwestern over Indiana, Illinois State and others ... Anticipated major is economics.