Cornell University Athletics

As a senior (2021)

• Captured second-team All-Ivy League honors.
• Had 31 tackles with 2.5 for a loss, a sack, nine pass breakups and a quarterback hurry while starting in nine games.
• 26 of his 31 tackles were made solo.
• Had four stops and added a quarterback hurry in the season opener against No. 22 VMI.
• Registered five tackles, including a half-tackle for loss and broke up a pass at Yale.
• Credited with five tackles with two stops for a loss and his first career sack, along with a pass breakup at No. 22 Harvard.
• Had four pass breakups in the win over Colgate, one off the single-game school record.
• Tallied three tackles with a pass breakup vs. Brown.
• Notched two tackles and broke up a pass against No. 15 Princeton.
• Had two tackles and broke up a pass against Columbia.
• The Big Red defense ranked fifth in the Ivy League and top 50 nationally, allowing 212.6 passing yards per game.

As a senior (2020)

• Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

As a sophomore (2019)

• Started nine of the team's first nine games at corner, recording 16 tackles (12 solo), with 0.5 tackles for a loss, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
• Made his first career start in the opener at Marist, making two tackles and breaking up a pass from his cornerback spot.
• Had a career-high three stops at Ivy preseason favorite Yale.
• Recorded one tackle vs. Georgetown and two more at Harvard.
• Made two tackles vs. Colgate and notched three stops in the win over Brown.
• Had one tackle and broke up a pass at Penn.
• Made one tackle, a half-tackle for loss, with a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in the win over No. 12 Dartmouth.
• Had one stop in the Empire State Bowl win over Columbia.
 

As a freshman (2018)

• Earned playing time in six contests, registering four tackles.
• Saw his first varsity action in the 2018 opener at Delaware, making a pair of stops.
• Made one tackle in the win over Sacred Heart.
• Also saw action at No. 17 Colgate and on special teams in the win over Brown.
• Had a tackle at No. 17 Princeton.
• Earned one carry for 2 yards against No. 23 Dartmouth as a wildcat quarterback.
• Also ran once for 3 yards at Columbia in the season finale.
 

Prior to Cornell

• Irons was a two-time first-team all-district selection at McGregor HS while playing defensive back, wide receiver and quarterback.
• In two seasons, he posted 83 tackles, 11 pass breakups and an interception on defense and accounted for 14 touchdowns as a senior on the offensive side of the ball en route to honorable mention all-state honors.
• Irons was a state finalist in track and field and a two-time district MVP and all-region selection in basketball.
 

Personal

• Michael Eugene Irons is the son of Marcus Irons and Lekeria Smith and has an older brother and sister.
• He is enrolled in the School of Hotel Administration.