Boston College Football: Get To Know The Dudes - #30, LB Mike Strizak

Name: Mike Strizak

Position: Linebacker

Number: #30

Year: Sophomore

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 230 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 Projections: Strizak is one of those players who could benefit from openings along the Boston College defense.  With the graduations of Kevin Pierre-Louis and Steele Devitto, he'll receive at least a shot to fit into the Don Brown defense.  If the former high school defensive end can line up and take on the added role, we'll see some of the potential that existed in the USC game.  Pencil him in for about 35 tackles or so with a high ceiling.

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:

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):