Neil O’Connor, WR, UNH Wildcats : 2019 NFL Draft
School: New Hampshire
College Experience: Senior
Height/Weight: 5’11” / 190
Twitter: @oconnor_neil
40-Time: 4.54/4.56
Bench Press: 9
Vertical Jump: 35.5
Broad Jump: 10’1″
20Yd Shuttle: 4.1
3-Cone Drill: 6.9
2018 – Named to All-CAA First Team for second straight season… ended his career with 235 receptions for 3,117 yards, both of which rank third on the program’s all-time leader board… led Wildcats in receptions (71), receiving yards (814) and receiving touchdowns (three)… the 71 receptions tied for 10th on UNH’s list of single-season superlatives… averaged 11.46 yards per catch and 74 receiving yards per game… ranked 13th in the nation with a CAA-leading 6.5 receptions per game… ranked third in the conference in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game… eclipsed 100 receiving yards three times this season… season high of 156 yards on 14 catches – also a season high – and a touchdown against nationally-ranked Stony Brook (10/13)… registered 10 catches for 108 yards and a TD vs. Holy Cross (10/06)… pulled in five catches for 98 yards, including a 71-yard score, at Colorado (09/15)… named to HERO Sports Preseason All-American Team
2017 – CAA Academic Honor Roll… five-time All-American… Walter Payton Award Finalist… All-CAA First Team… All-New England Team… All-ECAC First Team… New England Football Writers Gold Helmet, twice (9/13 and 10/4)… started all 14 games… team leader in receptions (97), receiving yards (1,396) and receiving TDs (10), as well as all-purpose yards (1,510) and points (60)… averaged 14.4 yards/ reception and 99.7 receiving yards/game… three rushes for 10 yards (3.3 yards/rush)… six kickoff returns for 104 yards (17.3 yards/return)… on UNH’s single-season leaderboards, those numbers are No. 4 in receiving yards and No. 2 in receptions… on the national leaderboard, No. 3 in receiving yards, 11th in receptions per game and receiving yards per game, and 14th in receiving TDs… led the CAA in receptions, receiving yards, receiving yards/game and receiving TDs; also No. 5 in all-purpose yards/game… also completed 4 of 5 passes for 104 yards and one TD… 11 catches for career-high 232 yards, including a long of 76, and one TD vs. Rhode Island… career-high 13 catches for 182 yards at Stony Brook… 11 catches for 118 yards and two TDs against FBS school Georgia Southern… seven catches for 154 yards and personal-best three TDs vs. Bryant… seven catches for 193 yards and one touchdown at William & Mary… seven catches for 92 yards and two TDs at Holy Cross… 60-yard TD pass vs. Maine.
2016 –All-CAA Football Third Team (Offense)… saw action in all 13 games… 58 carries for 834 yards… career-high of 192 all-purpose yards and 10 carries against James Madison (10/15)… SportCenter Top Play of the Day with catch against Lehigh (11/26).
2015 – Played all 12 games… caught nine passes for a total of 73 yards (8.1 yards/catch), including a long of 13 yards at nationally-ranked William & Mary (10/17)… three rushes for 23 yards (7.7 yards/rush), including a long of 12 yards in his collegiate debut, the opener at San Jose State (09/03)… season high of 53 all-purpose yards, including two kickoff returns for 44 yards, against fifth-ranked Richmond (11/07)… season highs in both catches (three) and receiving yards (24) vs. Elon (10/03)… five kick returns for 81 yards (16.2 yards/return), including a long of 26 yards.
2014 – Redshirt season.
Before UNH
Helped lead Leominster to a 10-1 record in 2013 after Massachusetts D-1 Central Super Bowl victories as a sophomore and junior… Mass. Gatorade Player of the Year who transitioned to quarterback from receiver as a senior… completed 121 of 194 (62%) passes for 2,132 yards and 24 TDs… rushed for 673 yards on 81 carries for 8.3 yards/carry and 11 more touchdowns… at defensive back, recorded 120 tackles, one forced fumble and five interceptions, of which he returned two for touchdowns… returned two punts for scores… team MVP for the second straight season… led the Blue Devils in five statistical categories: touchdowns; rushing yards; passing yards; total offense; and interceptions… led the team in INTs, receiving yards and TD receptions as a junior… ESPNBoston.com All-State Team as a QB and Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Super 26 Team as a DB… Central Massachusetts D-1 Defensive Player of the Year and Midland Wachusett A All-League for the second straight year… repeated as a Worcester Telegram Super Team member, and as Sentinel & Enterprise All-Star… a three-sport captain, also a Worcester Telegram Super Team member in basketball and a two-time Sentinel & Enterprise All-Star member of the varsity baseball team as a pitcher.
Leominster High School was the birth place of O’Connor becoming a force at the high school level. He excelled at playing football – period. He switched from receiver to quarterback and played safety so well it was the position that garnered the most attention when college recruiters came calling.
The cliché identity when describing O’Connor now is not of a quarterback or safety but of Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots. A productive undersized receiver who moves the chains on third-down.
Magnify that description since O’Connor grew up an hour north of Foxborough which also coincides with the New England Patriots keeping tabs on this two-time All-CAA First Team receiver.
O’Connor had outstanding production. His senior numbers took a slight dip due to after starting quarterback Trevor Knight was sidelined for nearly half the season. He is quick off the line and has a knack for getting open. Will work across the middle. Very good route running with solid hands.
Savvy, slot receiver who helped his cause with a good Pro Day.
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