2012: Redshirt senior ... Handled NU's kickoff duties for second straight season ... Converted his first career field goal attempt in victory over South Dakota, connecting from 39 yards out in the fourth quarter ... 16 total touchbacks on 83 kickoffs.
2011:Handled team's kickoff duties ... In season-opening game at Boston College, recorded five kickoffs and averaged 66.8 yards per kick, which included two touchbacks ... Notched seven kickoffs for 444 yards (63.4 average) vs. Eastern Illinois ... Averaged 64.4 yards per kickoff against Penn State ... Handled a career-most 10 kickoffs in the Indiana game ... Averaged 61.2 yards per kickoff and totaled six touchbacks for the season.
2010:Played against Illinois State ... Booted one kickoff 67 yards.
2009: Appeared in two games (Towson and Auburn) and converted his first career PAT kick vs. Towson.
2008:Did not see action.
High School: Two-time special mention kicker on the 2006 and 2007 Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times'all-state teams ... Honored in May 2007 as one of the top 12 kickers (out of 250) at the Chris Sailer Kicking camp ... As a junior, booted 9-of-12 field goals and 57-of-61 PAT's for St. Rita and as a senior, 6-of-7 field goals and 58-of-62 PAT's ... Named the player of the game in the 2006 IHSA state semifinal when he booted the game-winning field goal to send the Mustangs on to the state championship game ... Had two other game-winning kicks during his prep career ... Set an Illinois Class 7A playoff record with a 48-yard field goal in 2006 ... Helped the Mustangs two a two-year record of 23-5, which included a state title in 2006 ... Team was 10-4 his senior year and won the Chicago Prep Bowl ... Also played wide receiver for the Mustangs ... His special teams coach at St. Rita was former NU punter J.J. Standring ... Honor roll every semester at St. Rita ... National Honor Society ... Current NU quarterback Mike Kafka is a St. Rita alum ... Coached by Todd Kuska.
Personal:Born Stephen Patrick Flaherty ... Son of Steve and Mary Flaherty ... His uncle, Tom Flaherty, was a linebacker at Northwestern (1982-86) and drafted by the Bengals ... Another uncle, Michael Flaherty, is the head basketball coach at Chicago Mt. Carmel and a member of the IHSA Coaches' Hall of Fame ... Journalism major.