COLLEGE CAREER – New Orleans selected this three-year starter from Ohio State to compete at the linebacker position. The Indianapolis native finished his college career with 185 career tackles, 16 stops for loss, four sacks, passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Werner helped power the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff championship game as a senior in 2020, when he was voted by Big Ten coaches as a first-team All-Conference selection and a Butkus Award semifinalist, posting 54 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles.
2020 – Voted by Big Ten coaches as a first-team All-Conference selection and also was a Butkus Award semifinalist, 54 tackles (28 solo), 2.5 stops for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed as the Buckeyes reached the College Football Playoff championship game…Recorded eight tackles (five solo), one stop for loss and one sack against Indiana, Nov. 21…Posted nine tackles in College Football Playoff semifinal win over Clemson, 1/1/21…Recorded eight tackles (four solo) and one pass defensed in College Football Playoff championship game loss to Alabama, 1/11/21. 2019 – Started all 14 games for College Football Playoff semifinalists…Started all 14 games and was second on the Buckeyes in tackle (64), while earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors…Had 5.5 tackles for loss for minus 11 yards, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries…Was selected as the player of the game in posting a season-high ten tackles (eight solo) and two passes defensed in a 28-17 Big Ten East Division-clinching win over Penn State, Nov. 23…Recorded six tackles and recovered two fumbles in 38-7 win over Wisconsin, Oct. 26….Posted six stops, and a half-stop for loss in College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Clemson, Dec. 28.   2018 – Earned a starting assignment in 13 of 14 games for the Big Ten and Rose Bowl champion Buckeyes, recording a 58 tackles (38 solo), a career-high 7.5 stops for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and seven passes defensed…His most productive statistical game was a 10-tackle effort in a win over Minnesota, Oct. 13, that included 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack…Posted four stops, a stop for loss, one sack and a career-high three passes defensed against Indiana, Oct. 6…Posted five tackles (two solo) and one pass defense in Rose Bowl win over Washington, 1/1/19.  2017 – Lettered as a true freshman for the Buckeyes, playing in nine games and contributing nine tackles with most of them coming on special teams...Made season-high three stops and a split tackle for loss in college debut vs. UNLV, Sept. 23.
PERSONAL - Rivals, 247Sports and Scout four-star prospect as a standout OLB at Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral…Among the Top 300 players nationally by both Scout and 247Sports and among the Top 20 outside linebackers…Was a first-team Associated Press Class 6A all-state pick as a senior for a Cathedral team that went 7-5 and advanced to the regional finals…Missed three games due to injury, but recorded 64 tackles, including 17 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks, and finished third for Indianapolis Star Mr. Football honors…Earned top linebacker award in the state by Indianapolis Star…Rated No. 1 OLB in Midwest by Scout and PrepStar all-Midwest region honoree…Real estate and urban analysis major and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection…Father, Greg, starred in football and baseball at DePauw University, is in its Athletics Hall of Fame and played two years in the NFL with the New York Jets and Eagles…Older brother, Dan, played football at Harvard.
