Christopher Newport University

At John Champe -- Played four years as linebacker and three as a fullback for the Knights under head coach Jason Dawson...Reached state semifinals after winning conference championship as a junior...Started playing as an eighth grader on the freshman team, earning defensive MVP honors...Named varsity team captain as a junior prior to collecting first team All-Conference and second team All-Region honors at linebacker...Retained team captain title into senior year, earning second team All-Conference honors as a running back, and first team All-Conference at linebacker...Earned Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as first team All-Region, second team All-State and All-Loco Sports first team defense as a senior.

Personal -- Michael Jack O'Connell was born in Fairfax, Va...Son of Mike and Kim O'Connell...Has two sisters, Cortney and Callie, who each are Division I athletes...Favorite sports personalities are Clay Matthews and Aaron Rodgers...Dream vacation would be to watch the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field...Person in history he'd most like to meet is Ronald Reagan...Favorite food is steak...Favorite book is American Sniper...Favorite band is Alabama...Has not yet decided on a major.