football player<\/a>?<\/strong><\/p>\nGrowing up in Alaska, my family was always active \u2014 hunting, fishing, wrestling \u2014 we stayed moving. I was first pushed toward wrestling because my uncle and grandpa were standouts in the sport, but one of my coaches saw something in me and suggested I try football. I started as a stocky lineman, but as I grew and leaned out, I found my natural position at linebacker. I\u2019ll never forget the feeling of right before the opening kick off getting ready to go to war \u2014 that raw, warrior energy stuck with me. It became more than a sport. It became something I looked forward to just as much as winning the game.<\/p>\n
What are your favorite moments from your football life?<\/strong><\/p>\nA: My senior year state championship in high school \u2014 we came up short, and it hurt. But what stuck with me wasn\u2019t the loss, it was the brotherhood we built that year. That team taught me how meaningful the journey is when you\u2019re surrounded by the right people. In college, my favorite moments weren\u2019t just wins, but the celebration after making a big play or putting together a tough team win. Those moments, when everyone is enjoying each other\u2019s accomplishments that we worked together for, that\u2019s what I will remember.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?<\/strong><\/p>\nI want to keep chasing the highest version of myself. I don\u2019t believe I\u2019ve peaked yet \u2014 not physically, not mentally, and definitely not as a football player. I want to grow, compete, and prove that I belong at the highest level. I owe it to myself.<\/p>\n
If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nPatrick Willis, without a doubt. He was the first jersey I ever got, and from the moment I started watching football, I saw a version of the game I wanted to embody\u2014tough, relentless, and smart. I\u2019d love to hear his mindset, his approach, and what drove him to be great.<\/p>\n
Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nMy dad. He laid the blueprint for how to work hard, how to be accountable, and how to carry yourself with pride. He taught me that nothing is out of reach if you\u2019re willing to outwork everyone else. A lot of who I am today is because of, and I carry that with me on and off the field.<\/p>\n
What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nI love playing in a 4-3 or 3-3, especially when I\u2019m lined up as a Rover or Sam. I thrive when I can play in space, use my speed to force the ball inside or shut down screens. I love disguising coverages, giving the offense something they\u2019re not expecting. Letting me roam lets me play instinctual, and that\u2019s when I\u2019m at my best.<\/p>\n
What should we know about Conner O\u2019Farrell the person?<\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019m someone who grew up in Alaska where the outdoors were part of daily life. I was introduced at a very young age to fishing, hunting, snow machining, dirt biking and camping, really anything active and outdoors. I was always wanting to do something active. I\u2019m a multi-sport athlete who loves competing, lifting, and being active. I\u2019m a family guy, and I\u2019m about to marry the love of my life. Whether I\u2019m in pads or not, I\u2019m always working to become a better version of myself.<\/p>\n
What stands out about your film the most?<\/strong><\/p>\nSpeed and versatility. As an outside linebacker, I can close ground fast and disrupt plays in space. On special teams, I was a mainstay throughout college, kickoff, punt, return units, I made my presence known. Coaches trusted me to be wherever they needed someone dependable.<\/p>\n
How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?<\/strong><\/p>\nI don\u2019t shy away. If it\u2019s a big challenge, I break it down and tackle it step by step. I stay level-headed, focused, and I don\u2019t let the moment get too big. I\u2019ve learned that your attitude in adversity says more than your reaction to success.<\/p>\n
What would a team get in a player like you?<\/strong><\/p>\nA guy who doesn\u2019t do things halfway. I give 100% in everything I do. I\u2019m a worker, I care deeply about my craft, and I\u2019m constantly striving to be better than yesterday, not just good, not just reliable, the best I can be. If I\u2019m in your building, I\u2019m there to raise the standard.<\/p>\n
What do you love the most about the game of football?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe brotherhood. The shared goal, the shared suffering, the highs and lows, it brings people together in a way nothing else does. Football reveals character, and when you\u2019re surrounded by guys who all want the same thing and are willing to put in the work for it, that\u2019s where I feel I belong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who is the most underrated player you\u2019ve played with and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nTwo guys come to mind, Efton Chism III and Eric Barriere. Both were game-changers on the field. They got some recognition, sure, but they deserve even more. Watching them compete every day, I saw firsthand what NFL-level talent looks like. I truly believe they belong at the next level.<\/p>\n
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![\"Football](\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/00edb5291ce4ed2db5ebbaec0c0618f682f402ecc6bec392a5a1f72a950d64bb?s=100&r=g\")
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Writer\/Scout\/Interviewer for Draft Diamonds since January 2020. You can find me on X at @jrberendzen and Instagram at justinberendzen<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Read More<\/a> Justin Berendzen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Learn about Conner O\u2019Farrell, the linebacker from Eastern Washington University, and his journey to football stardom. Name: Conner O\u2019Farrell Position: LB College: Eastern Washington University Height: 5\u2019 11\u201d Weight: 215 lbs X (Twitter): @connerofarrell1 Instagram: @conner.ofarrell What made you decide you wanted to be a football player? Growing up in Alaska, my family was always<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":841722,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3774,3790,32661],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-841721","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-draft","8":"category-football","9":"category-prospect"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=841721"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841721\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/841722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=841721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=841721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=841721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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