Connor Strachan, LB, Boston College: 2019 NFL Draft

STRACHAN’S CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 15 at Wake Forest, 9//13/18
Sacks: 2.5 at Massachusetts, 9/10/16
Tackles for loss: 4 vs. Georgia Tech, 9/3/16
Interceptions: 1 (2x) last vs. Wake Forest, 10/10/15
Long interception return: 16 vs. Howard, 9/12/15
Fumbles forced: 1 (2x) last vs. Miami, 10/26/18
Fumbles recovered: 1 (5x) last vs. Buffalo, 10/1/16
Pass breakups: 1 (3x) last at Clemson, 10/17/15

2018 (GRADUATE): All-ACC Third Team… returned from injury to start a MLB in his 40th career game vs. UMass (9/1/18) with a team-high eight tackles and one sack… registered a career-high 15 tackles, including 13 solos, with 0.5 TFL at Wake Forest (9/13/18)… posted six tackles and a sack at Purdue (9/22/18)… grabbed five tackles against Temple (9/29/18)… totaled 12 tackles, including 10 assists, at No. 23 NC State (10/6/18)… picked up six tackles and one TFL vs. Louisville (10/13/18)… recorded nine tackles with a sack, 1.5 TFLs and forced  fumble vs. No. 25 Miami (10/26/18)… tallied 11 tackles at Virginia Tech (11/3/18)… made seven tackles vs. Clemson (11/10/18)… posted four tackles and one TFL at Florida State (11/17/18)… six tackles and one TFL vs. No. 19 Syracuse (11/24/18) plus a quarterback hurry.

2017 (SENIOR): Played in the first two games of the season before undergoing season-ending knee surgery … was awarded a medical redshirt.

2016 (JUNIOR): Played in 12 games, making 11 starts at middle linebacker … voted All-ACC honorable mention by the league’s media … named to the Division I All-New England Team … tied for second in the nation and ranked first in the ACC with four recovered fumbles … led the Eagles with 80 tackles, including 48 unassisted … tied for third on the team with 11 tackles for a loss of 48 yards … recorded 3.5 sacks for a loss of 29 yards, one forced fumble and one quarterback hurry … part of the defense that ranked in the top 10 in the country in eight categories, including ninth in total defense (314.2 yards/game), second in sacks (3.62 sacks/game) sixth in tackles for loss (8.2 TFL/game) and seventh in rushing defense (108.5 yards/game) … BC defense tied the school record with eight sacks twice, at Massachusetts (Sept. 10) and vs. Maryland (Dec. 26), and recorded at least 10 tackles for loss four times … BC’s 47 sacks on the season tied the school record set in 1994 … recorded eight solo tackles, including a career-high four tackles for a loss of 13 yards, against Georgia Tech (Sept. 3) … tallied six tackles and set a new career high with 2.5 sacks for a loss of 19 yards at Massachusetts (Sept. 10); also recorded first career forced fumble and recovered another fumble in the win over the Minutemen … notched second fumble recovery of the season against Buffalo (Oct. 1) … tallied five tackles against Clemson (Oct. 7), including eighth tackle for a loss … notched nine tackles and recovered third fumble of the season against Louisville (Nov. 5) …  recorded a team-high nine tackles at Florida State (Nov. 11) while adding a sack … led the Eagles with six tackles against Connecticut (Nov. 19) …  recorded back-to-back games of 10 tackles at Wake Forest (No. 26) and in the Quick Lane Bowl victory over Maryland (Dec. 26) … added a fumble recovery against the Demon Deacons and recorded one tackle for loss against the Terrapins … ACC All-Academic Team selection.

2015 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 12 games, including starting the final six games of the season at weak side linebacker … tied for the ACC lead in fumble recoveries (3) and ranked seventh nationally … ranked 26th in the league with 6.2 tackles per game … one of 10 players in the ACC with an interception return for a touchdown … ranked second on the team with 75 tackles … also tallied 12.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions …  registered 11 stops over the first two games against Maine (Sept. 5) and Howard (Sept. 12) … also returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown against the Bison … named ACC Linebacker of the Week after tallying a career-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in the victory over Northern Illinois (Sept. 26) … also had a sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss against the Huskies … recorded three tackles and an interception against Wake Forest (Oct. 10) … recorded a career and game-high 12 tackles, and a pass breakup at No. 5/6 Clemson (Oct. 17) … totaled nine tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, a sack and a fumble recovery at Louisville (Oct. 24) … recovered a fumble and had eight tackles vs. Virginia Tech (Oct. 31) … tallied consecutive eight-tackle games vs. NC State (Nov.7) and Notre Dame (Nov. 21) … registered four solo stops, including one for a loss, and recovered a fumble in season finale at Syracuse (Nov. 28).

2014 (FRESHMAN): Played in all 13 games … recorded 12 tackles, including five solo tackles … tallied two solo tackles in the Eagles’ win vs. No. 9 Southern California (Sept. 13) … recorded a season-high four tackles, including one tackle for a loss of four yards, and assisted on a sack for a loss of three yards, against Maine (Sept. 20) … made one tackle at NC State (Oct. 11) … registered three tackles at Wake Forest (Oct. 25) … made two solo tackles against Syracuse (Nov. 29).

HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked the No. 2 prospect in Massachusetts by ESPN … earned Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association All-State Super 26, Independent School League (ISL) Co-MVP, ISL All-League and ISL All-Scholastic Team honors as a senior … garnered the 2013 Nike Football Training Camp (NFTC) Linebacker MVP award … invited to the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl … team captain for St. Sebastian’s … tallied 81 tackles, including 10 for loss, one interception and two forced fumbles as a senior … also recorded 70 tackles, nine for a loss, one pass breakup and one forced fumble as a junior.

PERSONAL: Connor F. Strachan … earned a degree in finance major from the Carroll School of Management in May 2018 … enrolled in graduate school with a focus on management … has three siblings.

Growing up as a young brother in the Strachan household, Connor explained he was used to his older brother taking rough shots at him, which coincided with him becoming one tough-nosed football player.

He played all the sports growing up like hockey, lacrosse and baseball. Strachan did not play football until middle school, but he fell in love with it once he got a real taste. He would eventually be ranked as the No. 2 prospect in Massachusetts by ESPN upon his departure from St. Sebastian an all-boys Catholic school located in Needham, Massachusetts. Strachan carried on the No. 2 ranking with pride, playing as a true freshman for the Eagles in a big-time Power-Five conference like the ACC. Each season he built himself up, establishing himself as one of the leaders of the Boston College defense.

What NFL Scouts are going to like about Strachan is his fiery, high-revving motor. He plays fast and violent. Shorter than what is desire but has a compact muscled up frame. Showed his strength with 25 reps of 225 at Pro Day placing him amongst the top linebackers at the NFL Combine. He plays with intent and can be a punishing tackler. Keys and diagnosis plays quickly and gets to the ball. Made the defensive calls for the Eagles. In coverage he can open his hips and get depth in his drops. Can run with backs and is physical enough to knock tight ends off balance. Size is going to be the question and durability, but has a heart of a lion type mentality.

His Pro Day numbers are comparable with the prospects invited to the NFL Combine, in fact, his sixty-yard shuttle (11.29) would have placed him at the very top of the linebacker group. His twenty-yard shuttle (4.21) was good enough to tie him for ninth amongst some of the top linebackers in the country. Going from one event to the next Strachan provided the athletic requirements to grab the attention of NFL teams.

Late-round possibility with definite camp invite ability. Great competitor with special teams’ mentality.