Columbia University Athletics

2022: Did not see any game action as a sophomore offensive lineman.
 
2021: Saw action on the offensive line and on special teams in one game as a first-year offensive lineman … Also contributed on the scout team … Saw first career action in the season opener vs. Marist (Sept. 18).
 
HIGH SCHOOL: A May 2021 graduate of Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas, where he played three years of varsity football for Head Coach Hank Carter … Named Class 6A Division Second Team All-State honoree as a senior … Earned Second Team All-State honors from the Padilla Poll in 2020 … Two-time All-District 26-6A selection (2018 and 2019) … Named to the Texas Class 6A Academic All-State team in 2020 … Three-time Academic All-District selection in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … All-Vype Football selection … Played three years on the offensive line as a guard and left tackle for the Cavaliers varsity … Led the Cavaliers to the 2018 and 2019 Texas Class 6A Division 1 state quarterfinals and back-to-back District 25-6A UIL champions … Guided the Cavaliers to three straight Texas Class 6A state semifinal finishes and one District qualifier in 2020 … Allowed no sacks on the offensive line during his senior year … Also competed in wrestling as a heavyweight … Qualified for regional competition in 2018 … Involved in a variety of community service activities … Member of PALs (peer assistance and leadership group) … Logged over 65 hours of mentorship with youth in grades 5 through 8.
 
PERSONAL: Born Judge Wesson Niland on June 6, 2003 in El Paso, Texas … Son of Jack W. Niland and Cortney Carlisle Thompson of Mcallen, Texas … Has two brothers: Jack Thomas Niland and Palmer Allen Thompson … Both of his parents graduated from Texas … Older brother Jack is an offensive lineman on the football team at TCU … Great grandfather Paul Wesson Carlisle competed in track and field at Texas State from 1940-46 … Hobbies and interests including hunting, fishing, playing golf, and playing disc golf … Never missed a shot with a rifle and considers himself to be an elite skeet shooter … Worked a summer job as a power washer … Can juggle and is the process of learning to play the harmonica … Role model is his grandfather because of his intelligence, hard work, patience, and wisdom which are all things he strives for each day … NFL quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Garrett Gilbert attended his high school .. Became interested in Columbia the moment the football program began recruiting him and also through researching the school … Selected Columbia to receive a world-class education in the best city in the world and also to make a difference … Chose Columbia over offers from Penn, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Army West Point, Air Force, Texas, Sam Houston State, Northern Colorado, and Incarnate Word … Enrolled at Columbia College … Intends to major in Financial Economics.