2022 Conference USA Honorable Mention
2022 Rimington Award Watch List
2021 Conference USA Honorable Mention
2021 PFF College All-CUSA Second Team
2022 (r-Jr.) | 14/14: Staats started all 14 games on the season for WKU, including the team's 44-23 victory over South Alabama in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. He helped lead an offensive line unit that gave up only 14 sacks on the season. That mark was 10th best in all of college football, and second in Conference USA. Prior to the season, Staats was named to the Rimington Award Watch List, and he finished the season with Conference USA Honorable Mention recognition.
2021 (r-So.) | 13/13: Staats anchored WKU's offensive line in 2021 during the team's run to a Conference USA East Division Championship. He was tasked with protecting C-USA MVP and NCAA record-setting quarterback Bailey Zappe. As an offensive line unit, Staats and the rest of the Tops allowed only 17 sacks on the season, which was 12th best in college football and second best within Conference USA.
2020 (r-So.) | 7/0: Staats played in seven games and saw time with 46 offensive snaps as an interior lineman, while also seeing time on multiple special teams units. He played a career-high 15 snaps on Nov. 21 vs. FIU and 11 apiece in early-season contests on Sept. 12 at Louisville and on Sept. 19 vs. Liberty. He will retain his redshirt sophomore year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 (r-Fr.) | 11/0: Staats appeared in all-but-two games for the Hilltoppers and played 15 total offensive snaps, while also seeing time on multiple special teams units. Of those 15 snaps, 13 came at the end of blowout wins at Arkansas and Southern Miss as WKU was running out the clock.
2018 (Fr.): Staats redshirted his first season on The Hill.
HS/Misc.: After originally committing to Navy in the Class of 2017, Staats spent one year at the prep school before coming to The Hill. He was a Class 2A Mr. Football semifinalist in Tennessee and was a four-year starter for the Watertown Purple Tigers, helping the team to an 8-3 record as a senior and a second-place finish in Region 4-2A. He was a 4-2A All-Region selection.
