Jammie Kirlew

Classroom

Kirlew is one of the top student-athletes in the Hoosier football program. He is an SPEA management and public financial management double major and holds a 3.25 GPA. He is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. Two summers ago Kirlew traveled to Italy to study abroad through IU’s international business program.

Character

Kirlew is the true definition of a student-athlete and a great representative of Indiana University. He is a leader on this football team, and his work ethic on and off the field is second to none. Kirlew is one of the first to arrive at practice and one of the last to leave, always lending a guiding hand to the younger players on the team. He spent the summer as one of the leaders, getting his teammates to work out and condition when the coaches do not have access to the players. Whether he is helping out at a Boys & Girls Club event or volunteering with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, Kirlew understands he is a role model and relishes that fact.

Community

Kirlew is one of the most involved Hoosiers in the community, as evidenced by his volunteering for President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.  Recently, he was recognized as a member of the 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his impressive off-the-field achievements and service to the community.  He is a big brother with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program and is involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs, including participation in an event prior to the start of 2009 preseason camp. He donated his time to lift the spirits of young children at Riley’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis this spring and is involved with several campus organizations, including the Business Careers in Entertainment Club. He also has volunteered for IU Relay for Life, a race to raise money for cancer cures, and directed a short film for the “Campus MovieFest,” the world’s largest national student film festival.

Competition

Kirlew was named to the 2009 watch lists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award and the Bednarik Award. He was selected first team All-Big Ten by Lindy’s preseason magazine and Sporting News and preseason All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports. He is also rated the eighth-best defensive end in the country by Lindy’s. One of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award in 2008, Kirlew was voted first team All-Big Ten by the conference media and second team by the league’s coaches. He received honorable mention SI.com All-American and second team Rivals.com All-Big Ten honors. Kirlew also received the team’s Anthony Thompson MVP Award, collected the team’s outstanding defensive lineman award and was named the team’s defensive player of the year. He finished the season with 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, both ranked fourth on Indiana’s single-season list. He was second in the Big Ten and tied for 14th nationally in sacks and third in the league and sixth nationally in tackles for loss. He paced the conference during league play in tackles for loss and shared third in sacks. Currently, he is tied for fourth on IU’s career tackles for loss chart with 37.0 and sits a half-sack out of fifth place with 16.5 career sacks. His 19.5 tackles for loss in 2008 were the most by a Hoosier since current Chicago Bear Adewale Ogunleye’s 21.0 in 1997.