Columbia University Athletics

CAREER
 
Played in 32 career games with 18 starts on the offensive line … Started 17 consecutive games from Nov. 12, 2016-Oct. 13, 2018 … Competed for five seasons for Columbia … Four-year letterman … Named team captain for 2018 season.
 
2018
 
One of four team co-captains as a fifth-year senior offensive lineman … Played in seven games with six starts at left tackle or left guard … Started each of the first five games before injuries slowed him … Part of an Lions offensive line that allowed just 19.0 sacks for 126 yards in 2018, which ranks as the second lowest opponent total in school history … Lions offensive line allowed zero sacks at Brown (Nov. 10) and only 1.0 sack in four games (Cornell, Nov. 17; Marist, Oct. 6; at Georgetown, Sept. 22; at Central Connecticut, Sept. 15) … Preseason All-Ivy League Third Team selection by Phil Steele Magazine.
 
2017
 
Earned honorable mention All-Ivy League honors as a senior offensive lineman … Started all 10 games at right tackle for Columbia in 2017 … Earned varsity letter.
 
2016
 
Saw action in seven games with starts on the offensive line as a junior … Served as the backup at right guard … Started the final two games of the season: vs. Cornell (Nov. 12) and at Brown (Nov. 19).
 
2015
 
Appeared in eight games on the Columbia offensive line as a sophomore.
 
2014
 
Did not see any game action … Contributed on the offensive line as a first-year
 
HIGH SCHOOL
 
A 2014 graduate of All Saints Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Texas, where he played three years of varsity football for head coach Aaron Beck … First team All-Southwest Preparatory Conference lineman in football as a senior ... Named Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Tom Hillary Dallas/Fort Worth Area All-Star Game … Played both offensive line and defensive line in football … In 26 career games played, totaled 12 tackles with 2.5 sacks on the defensive line as a senior … Led the Saints to a perfect 11-0 record, 7-0 SPC record and SPC small school state championship as a senior in 2013 … Helped the All Saints win a 42-7 state title victory over Houston Christian … Won back-to-back state championships as a junior and senior in football, going 22-0 over two years … Led the All Saints to a perfect 11-0 record, 7-0 league record and state title as a junior … Rated a two-star recruit by Rivals … Also played baseball, soccer and basketball … First Team All-SPC in baseball, where he played first base and pitched … Served as team captain in baseball … Played goalie in soccer.
 
PERSONAL
 
Born John Markham Paukune, Jr. on December 22, 1995 … Son of Mark and Kathy Paukune … Has a sister Grace … Played at same high school as fellow offensive lineman Charlie Flores and quarterback Ryan Suitt … Engaged in community service through his family’s outreach foundation … Chose Columbia over offers from Houston, Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Rice and Texas State … Enrolled at Columbia College … Majors in Political Science.