SV grad Lyczek returns to starting lineup for Clarion
CLARION — Connor Lyczek is used to being busy on the football field, which made for a very frustrating fall of 2022 for the Seneca Valley High School graduate.
Due to an ankle injury and a bout with mononucleosis, the safety/linebacker played in just five games for Clarion University and tallied 17 tackles, including 2½ for loss, two interceptions and four passes defensed. He returned one of his thefts for a touchdown.
“In our second game against Bloomsburg, I strained a tendon in my right ankle and missed the next two games,” said Lyczek. “I came back from that and played in three games, then missed the last four with mono.
“It was hard ... I couldn’t be with the team, watched the games online from home. It was tough not being out there with my brothers and fighting with them.”
Lyczek started the final three games of his freshman season at cornerback in 2021. Following that campaign, Ray Monica was hired as head coach and Lyczek was moved to his current position in the 4-2-5 scheme and earned a starting job before bad luck cut his sophomore season in half. He is slated to be in the Golden Eagles’ starting lineup when Clarion opens the season Aug. 31 at Lincoln University.
“We liked his size (6-foot-0, 185 pounds) and athleticism and believed he was physical enough to move to a hybrid position between linebacker and safety,” Monica said of the position switch. “He plays hard, understands the defense, pushes the other guys and is a well-rounded football player for us.
“He’s done everything he needs to do to put himself in a starting position.”
Despite his abbreviated season last year, Lyczek said he found a comfort level with his new spot on the field.
“It was a smooth transition for me,” he said. “I’m much more of a factor against the run now and get to blitz off the edge. I’ve become a versatile defender, can cover guys in the slot and the tight end.”
More responsibility certainly wasn’t a problem for Lyczek in high school when he played quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and returned both punts and kickoffs for the Raiders.
The Golden Eagles were winless in 2021 before going 3-8 (2-5 in PSAC West games) last year. Lyczek, a business management major, is part of a defense looking to make big strides.
“We have some guys returning from last year, but overall, we’re a young team,” he said. “We’ve been working on different scenarios in practice and are meshing well.”
Said Monica: “I’m excited about what we can do.”
