Our countdown continues with a prime example of how market share matters and injuries are the most unfair thing in all of sports. Put Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Pat O’Connor on another major market team in 2015 and all of a sudden he goes from watchlists for national awards to lists of favorites to win. He shifts from All-MAC to All-American. But that wasn’t the case for O’Connor, but the world looked as bright as ever as 2014 transitioned to 2015.
O’Connor was on track to be The Next Big Thing in the MAC, and follow in the footsteps of Khalil Mack, Eric Fisher, and a whole host of other MAC alums who were able to realize their dreams in the NFL.