Better Know A Dude 2015: #30 Linebacker Mike Strizak

Name: Mike Strizak

Position: Linebacker

Number: #30

Year: Junior

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 239 lbs.

Hometown: Fair Lawn, NJ

High School: Don Bosco Prep

2013 Stats: Appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman. Registered a total of five tackles (1 solo), including a career-high three tackles at USC on September 14. Other two tackles came against Army and Clemson.

2014 Stats: Had a big year for the Eagles finishing the year with 43 tackles including 21 solo stops. Had a season high seven tackles against Pittsburgh. He had a sack against Wake Forest, and recorded an interception against Syracuse in the final regular season game of the season.

2015 Projection: (edit note: he is sticking to linebacker this season) He moved from linebacker to defensive end, which is interesting because he had a pretty solid season at linebacker for the Eagles in 2014. He is quick, and can make plays and should give the Eagles even more depth on a deep defensive line. Having him at LB should give the Eagles some good depth at the position. I expect Strizak to make some more big plays this season. A handful of sacks and a strip sack sound like a reasonable projection for the junior.

Over/Under: 25 tackles, 4 sacks.

How'd He Get Here: A Rivals three-star LB from Don Bosco Prep, Strizak chose the Eagles over claimed offers from Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. He was rated the 12th best prospect out of New Jersey in the 2012 class. Recruited by (who else but) Bill McGovern.

Twitter Feed: You can follow Mike on Twitter @M_Strizak34.

Quotable:

ESPNHS: Has BC's struggles this season caused you to rethink your decision?
Strizak: I know they're a young team. They're struggling, but for myself, it doesn't really change much. Every student-athlete is taught that education comes first, and for me having a Boston College education, it's one of the best combination schools for sports and education in the country.

Uniform History: Along with Joey Launceford, Strizak is the other #30 on the current roster. "There have been quite a few #30 over the years but none that particularly stood out (at least, to me). The team's captain during the 1923 season, fullback Charles Darling, wore the #30 from 1921-24. It's been a number primarily worn by running backs, from William Fitzpatrick (1960-62) to L.V. Whitworth (2004-07), Glen Capriola (1974-76) to David Green (1993-94). However, it's a wide receiver, Donte Elliott, who last wore the #30 jersey during the 2011 and 2012 seasons."

Linkage:

Better Know A Dude 2014: LB Mike Strizak (BC Interruption)

Get Familiar: Mike Strizak (ESPNHS Football)

Mike Strizak Commits to Play at Boston College (NJ.com)

Strizak Commits Early (NorthJersey.com)

What Does Addazio Think Of Him: On replacing two accomplished linebackers and whose stepping up there:
"Mike Strizak, Sean Duggan, Josh Keyes have all stepped in there. Matt Milano is a kid from Florida that came up and started out as a safety that we've kind of knocked down to that nickel-sam, sam-linebacker kind of guy. We feel great about these guys. They're all different positions. I just rattled off a will, a mike, a sam."

Highlights (about the 0:55 mark):

Intereception of A.J. Long and Syracuse (ESPN.com)