Height: 6’2 3/8″
Weight: 231
40 Time:
Position: ILB
College: Penn State
Birthdate:
Hometown:

NFL Draft Scouting Report

Good all round skills … Secure tackler … Hard hitting … Closes to the ball well … Good in pursuit … Blitzes well … Decent in coverage, although technically not perfect … Moved inside in 2007, which is a more natural position for him … 2007 preseason all-American … Covers TEs well and is good in zone coverage … PSU all time leading tackler … strong hands and when he gets a hold of the ball carrier he rarely misses a tackle. Intercepted a pass at the Senior Bowl

College career

2007

v ND: Quick reaction and explosion to ball for sure tackle in backfield on first series … Big hit on draw up middle … Good coverage and wrap up tackle on pass short of first down … Great open field tackle on 3rd and long scramble to force punt … Big time blitz up middle for sack … Flushed the QB out of pocket // v Indiana: Quick burst to hit WR on catch underneath … Read the play and shot the gap to make a stop for a loss on 2nd and 1 … Outran by QB to outside on long TD run … Stop on WR in zone as DB gambled for the ball // v Purdue: Stop at line of scrimmage on edge … Good stop on the outside … Pursuit to the outside and made hit for a loss … Broke up third down pass to TE in slot … Stop on pass underneath to force 3rd and 2 late in fourth // v Texas A&M (Alamo Bowl): Tackle on catch over the middle for short gain … Recovered lateral on last play of first half

2006

Connor started all 13 games and finished with 113 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks and 2 interceptions.

2005

Connor moved into the starting lineup for their big win over Ohio State, and then continued to start the last seven games, recording 76 tackles. He also proved to be very disruptive to opposing offenses as he knifed through to record 5.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He was also ranked third on the team with eight pass breakups.

2004

Ranked second on the team and ninth in the Big Ten with 85 tackles (50 solo) in just four starts. He burst onto the national scene when he was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News, the Football Writers Association of America and Scripps. Connor proved to be very versatile by playing outside linebacker for most of the season, but because of injury he played the last three games at inside linebacker. Conner played in every game as a freshman and recorded 4.5 tackles for loss (minus-12 yards), one sack and one interception, for a defense that ranked among the top 10 in the nation in four categories and was the only team in Division I to not allow more than 21 points in a game.

High School Career

As a four-year starter, he was selected as the nation’s top prep linebacker by Parade and earned first-team All-America accolades from USA Today, SuperPrep and almost every scouting service in existence. He was also the 2003 Associated Press Big School Player-of-the-Year. Connor was also named to the first-team all-state team three times. He also lettered in basketball and track, where he participated in the high jump, javelin, discus and shot put.