Selected by the Cardinals with their second pick of the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, Lawrence appeared in nine games as a rookie.
2020: Played nine games (one start) and totaled nine tackles (seven solo) including one tackle for loss ... saw action on defense in this NFL debut @ SF (9/13), vs. Was (9/20) and vs. Det (9/27) ... had two tackles @ Car (10/4) ... tallied one tackle for a defense that limited the Jets to 162 net passing yards and four-of-13 on third down @ NYJ (10/11); missed the majority of the fourth quarter with a calf injury ... placed on injured reserve (calf) on 10/17, designated to return on 11/11 and activated on 12/1 ... inactive (calf) vs. LAR (12/6) ... recorded two tackles in each of the final three games – vs. Phi (12/20), vs. SF (12/26) and @ LAR (1/3/21) – including a tackle for loss against the 49ers.
A three-time (2017-19) permanent team captain for the Tigers, where he played 44 games (34 starts) in four years … registered 120 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … 2019 second-team All-SEC selection and named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in both 2017 and 2018 ... a team captain and second-team All-SEC selection, started 11 of 12 games he appeared in for the National Championship squad in 2019 … started each of the final nine games … recorded 28 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks … had three tackles and a tackle for loss in the 42-25 win over Clemson in CFP National Championship Game … named a permanent team captain for the second consecutive season and started all 13 games in 2018 … finished the year with career highs in tackles (54), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (4.0) and added three passes defensed … capped the season with a dominating performance in the 40-32 win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium when he had five tackles, four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in the bowl victory, earning Defensive Player of the Game honors … named a permanent team captain as a sophomore and started all 10 games he appeared in for the Tigers, including final eight games of the season … finished season with 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … played in nine games as a true freshman and totaled six tackles and a sack ... recorded his first-career sack against Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson vs. Louisville in the Citrus Bowl.
One of the top defenders in high school football as a senior at Neville (Monroe, LA) High School, was rated the nation's No. 21 ranked player according to Scout and the No. 1 player in Louisiana per ESPN … selected to the 2015 Max Preps first-team defense … earned an invitation to the 2016 Under Armour Game … helped lead Neville to back-to-back 4A state titles in 2014 and 2015 ... had three sacks in Neville's 28-27 win over Warren East in 2014 state title game ... propelled Neville to a 14-0 record in 2015 after going 14-1 in 2014 ... finished his senior year with 91 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks ... uncle is former LSU standout Oliver Lawrence, who played linebacker for the Tigers from 1985-89 and finished his career with 180 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 16 sacks and was a member of LSU's 1986 and 1988 SEC title teams … father, Ronald, was a star QB at Carroll High who played two seasons at Louisiana-Monroe with his twin brother, Donald, before transferring to Grambling.
