DAN CONNOR

3rd round, 74th overall

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Penn State's Dan Connor was chosen No.74 overall but was 40th in The Observer's top 100. (AP File Photo/J.D. Cavrich)

SCHOOL: Penn State

POSITION: Linebacker

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 237

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: The latest in the line of outstanding linebackers from "Linebacker U." Named All-American last season and won the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player. Set a school record with 419 career tackles.

OBSERVER TOP 100 RANKING: 40 (highest rated player available after the first two rounds).

QUOTE: "There's a ton of talent there (in Carolina at the linebacker position) and it's going to be great to learn under a bunch of great linebackers. There are some guys with a lot of experience. I'm just looking forward to that and taking it all in and learn from these guys who prove themselves every Sunday." -- ConnOr

PANTHERS' QUOTE: "We all have the same philosophy that `You can't go wrong picking good football players' and this kid is a really good football player." -- General manager Marty Hurney

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW: Connor is a crime, law and justice major and is a former running back who scored 28 touchdowns as a high school senior.

-- Charles Chandler

PANTHERS FIT: The Panthers didn't need another linebacker but couldn't pass up Connor, who they'd given a late first- or early second-round grade, with the 74th overall pick. He gives them excellent depth at linebacker, making that perhaps the strength of the team. He'll start out as a backup to middle linebacker Jon Beason and weakside linebackers Landon Johnson and Na'il Diggs, but it might be hard to keep him off the field. Connor also figures to boost special teams.