Eastern Michigan Athletics
O'Connor Selected by the Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft
4/29/2017 7:07:00 PM | Football
The former EMU defensive end was taken in the seventh round, 250th overall
Game Highlights.
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (EMUEagles.com) – Former Eastern Michigan University defensive end Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita) was selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft Saturday, April 29, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pa. O'Connor was the 250th overall pick in the three-day selection process.
O'Connor is the 28th EMU player to be picked in the draft. He is just the third Eastern Michigan player to be selected by the Lions, joining Al Clark (1971) and Charlie Batch (1998). Additionally, it marked the first time EMU had players drafted in back-to-back season since 2008-09, as Darius Jackson was a sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys last year.
O'Connor was the team leader on a much improved defensive unit for EMU in 2016. In his final season, O'Connor set the EMU sack record since 1998 by getting to the quarterback 20.0 times in his career. In total on the season, the Chicago native sacked the QB a team-high 8.5 times, which was good for 41st in the country and fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
In addition, O'Connor had 42 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 16 QB hurries, and five forced fumbles, and was one of just 10 players in the nation with five or more forced fumbles on the season. He finished his career as the games played leader, sack leader, QB hurries leader, and forced fumbles leader, while also finishing third on the tackles for loss list with 33.5.
At the conclusion of the season, O'Connor was recognized for his substantial efforts by being named to the MAC All-Conference First Team, as well as the first team on Phil Steele's Postseason All-MAC list. He also participated in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, played in Carson, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 21.
The MAC had 12 player drafted which is the most in the league's modern era, shattering the previous mark of 11 set in 2005.
Photo Gallery.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (EMUEagles.com) – Former Eastern Michigan University defensive end Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita) was selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft Saturday, April 29, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pa. O'Connor was the 250th overall pick in the three-day selection process.
O'Connor is the 28th EMU player to be picked in the draft. He is just the third Eastern Michigan player to be selected by the Lions, joining Al Clark (1971) and Charlie Batch (1998). Additionally, it marked the first time EMU had players drafted in back-to-back season since 2008-09, as Darius Jackson was a sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys last year.
O'Connor was the team leader on a much improved defensive unit for EMU in 2016. In his final season, O'Connor set the EMU sack record since 1998 by getting to the quarterback 20.0 times in his career. In total on the season, the Chicago native sacked the QB a team-high 8.5 times, which was good for 41st in the country and fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
In addition, O'Connor had 42 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 16 QB hurries, and five forced fumbles, and was one of just 10 players in the nation with five or more forced fumbles on the season. He finished his career as the games played leader, sack leader, QB hurries leader, and forced fumbles leader, while also finishing third on the tackles for loss list with 33.5.
At the conclusion of the season, O'Connor was recognized for his substantial efforts by being named to the MAC All-Conference First Team, as well as the first team on Phil Steele's Postseason All-MAC list. He also participated in the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, played in Carson, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 21.
The MAC had 12 player drafted which is the most in the league's modern era, shattering the previous mark of 11 set in 2005.
EMU's National Football League Draft Choices
| Year | Player | Draft Number | Team | Round |
| 1955 | Nick Manych | 243 | Baltimore Colts | 21st Round |
| 1967 | Robert Rodwell | 328 | Wahsington Redskins | 13th Round |
| 1970 | Bob Lints | 353 | Green Bay Packers | 3rd Round |
| 1971 | Al Clark | 72 | Detroit Lions | 3rd Round |
| 1972 | Dave Pureifory | 142 | Green Bay Packers | 6th Round |
| 1972 | Will Foster | 170 | Philadelphia Eagles | 7th Round |
| 1972 | Larry Ratcliff | 196 | Philadelphia Eagles | 8th Round |
| 1972 | Sam Elmore | 325 | New England Patriots | 13th Round |
| 1973 | Bill Dulac | 167 | Los Angeles Rams | 7th Round |
| 1973 | Ron Fernandes | 260 | Miami Dolphins | 10th Round |
| 1974 | Jim Pietrzak | 132 | New York Giants | 6th Round |
| 1974 | Dave Boone | 285 | Minnesota Vikings | 11th Round |
| 1974 | Frank Kolch | 333 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 13th Round |
| 1975 | Mike Strickland | 363 | Minnesota Vikings | 14th Round |
| 1976 | Clarence Chapman | 204 | Oakland Raiders | 7th Round |
| 1977 | Mark Carter | 264 | Miami Dolphins | 10th Round |
| 1977 | Jim Stansik | 319 | San Diego Chargers | 12th Round |
| 1978 | Ron Johnson | 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1st Round |
| 1981 | Ken Miller | 191 | Dallas Cowboys | 7th Round |
| 1988 | Gary Patton | 172 | New York Jets | 7th Round |
| 1998 | Charlie Batch | 60 | Detroit Lions | 2nd Round |
| 1999 | L.J. Shelton | 21 | Arizona Cardinals | 1st Round |
| 2003 | Kevin Walter | 255 | New York Giants | 7th Round |
| 2004 | Chris R. Roberson | 237 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 7th Round |
| 2008 | Jason Jones | 54 | Tennessee Titans | 2nd Round |
| 2009 | T.J. Lang | 109 | Green Bay Packers | 4th Round |
| 2016 | Darius Jackson | 216 | Dallas Cowboys | 6th Round |
| 2017 | Pat O'Connor | 250 | Detroit Lions | 7th Round |
Players Mentioned
DL
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