Jonathan Celestin

Class:
Senior
Position:
LB
Hometown:
Jonesboro, Ga.
High School:
Mundy's Mill HS

2017 - SENIOR SEASON: Started all 12 games - finished second on the team with 78 tackles (55 solo) including 5.5 for a loss - recovered one fumble and had one pick-six - received the team's Carl Eller Award (Outstanding Defensive Player) and was named Minnesota's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. Game-by-Game: Started against Buffalo and recorded six tackles including 1.5 for a loss of three yards - led the team with 10 tackles including a tackle for a loss of five yards and recovered one fumble at Oregon State - notched four tackles against Middle Tennessee - tallied a career high 15 tackles including one for a loss of one yard against Maryland - made six tackles including one sack for a loss of seven yards - notched six tackles against Michigan State - took his first career interception to the house late in the game against Illinois - notched eight tackles against Iowa - made four tackles against Michigan - tallied four tackles against Nebraska - registered six tackles against Northwestern - notched four tackles including one for a loss against Wisconsin.

2016 - JUNIOR SEASON: Played in all 13 games and started 10 - recorded 80 tackles, second highest on the team, with seven for a loss of 20 yards, 2.5 sacks and broke up four passes - Academic All-Big Ten. Game-by-Game: Led the team with seven tackles and also broke up one pass against Oregon State - notched four tackles including one for a loss against Indiana State - recorded four tackles including one for a loss of one yard against Colorado State - tallied eight tackles with two for a loss of 11 yards against Penn State - anchored the defense with a career high (and highest total of any Gopher this season) 13 tackles (12 solo) against Iowa - led the Gophers in tackling with seven (six solo) against Maryland with one sack and one pass breakup - had a team high 12 tackles including one sack for a loss of two yards against Rutgers - notched four tackles including one for a loss of one yard and was credited with two quarterback hurries against Illinois - made five tackles with half a sack for a loss of one yard - tallied five tackles against Nebraska - broke up one pass and made three tackles against Northwestern - forced one fumble and made seven tackles against Wisconsin - recorded one tackle against Washington State.

2015 - SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played in all 13 games and started three - made 43 tackles, including 4.0 tackles-for-loss - forced a fumble and broke up a pass - Academic All-Big Ten. Game-by-Game: Saw action against TCU, but did not record any statistics - tied a previous-best with six tackles at Colorado State - made one solo and one assisted tackle versus Kent State - totaled a career-high eight tackles (six solo), including 1.0 tackle-for-loss, against Ohio - recorded a pair of tackles, including 1.0 behind the line of scrimmage, at Northwestern - tallied a pair of tackles at Purdue - registered a team-high eight tackles and forced a fumble versus Nebraska - notched a tackle against Michigan - saw action at Ohio State, but did not record any statistics - registered two solo tackles at Iowa - totaled six tackles, including 1.0 behind the line of scrimmage, versus Illinois - saw action against Wisconsin, but did not record any statistics - recorded a team-high six tackles (five solo) versus Central Michigan.

2014 - FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in 11 games and made 16 tackles - recorded 3.0 tackles-for-loss and forced one fumble on special teams. Game-by-Game: Made his Minnesota and collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois and recorded three tackles - totaled four tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, against Middle Tennessee - competed at TCU and against San Jose State - saw special teams action against Northwestern - made one tackle and forced one fumble on a kick return against Purdue - saw action at Illinois - made a career-high six tackles (five solo) against Iowa, including one tackle-for-loss - played at Nebraska and at Wisconsin - totaled two tackles against Missouri, including one tackle-for-loss.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Mundy's Mill High School - helped lead his team to an 8-5 record, which was the best season in school history - team advanced to Class 5A quarterfinals - honorable mention All-State - named Clayton County's top defensive player by the Clayton Daily News - moved from safety to linebacker during his senior season and led the team with 139 tackles (92 solo) - recorded 10 or more tackles in eight games - had seven tackles-for-loss, which included six sacks - caught one pass for 10 yards - recorded 39 tackles as a junior, including five tackles-for-loss and four sacks - caught seven passes for 81 yards as a tight end - high school teammate running back Rodney Smith - coached by Greg Manior - also lettered in basketball and track - rated as a two-star recruit by 247Sports, which also named him the 124th-best linebacker in his class and the 164th-best player in Georgia.

PERSONAL: Born Nov. 21, 1995 - son of Frederick and Eunice Celestin - has one sister (Alexus).