2019 Football Roster
O'Connell, Patrick
Jersey Number 58
Patrick O'Connell
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 225
- Position:
- LB
- Hometown:
- Kalispell, Mont.
- High School:
- Glacier HS
- Prev School:
- U of Mary
Bio
2022 (R-Sr.):
• Named second-team All-America by STATS and Phil Steele following his senior season
• First Team All-Big Sky for a second-straight year
• Named the team's Defensive MVP
• Presented the team's Tony Barbour Award, given annually to the player "who best exemplifies outstanding practice habits and makes an unselfish contribution to the betterment of the Grizzly Football Team."
• Academic All-Big Sky
Led the Big Sky in both TFLs (14) and sacks (8) for a second-straight year, despite missing the bulk of three games to injury. He finished his career at UM ranked among the program's career leaders in both sacks and TFLs with 28.5 sacks and 45 TFLs. His 45 tackles for loss tied him with the great Kroy Biermann and Josh Buss at No. 4 all-time in program history. Also finished his career with 28.5 career sacks, placing him at No. 6 all-time for the Grizzlies. With 242 career stops, he also finished among the top-40 UM tacklers of all time.
• Named the 2022 Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
• A Stats Perform and HERO Sports preseason All-American
2020-21 (R-Jr.):
• Phil Steele Preseason 3rd team All-Big Sky
• Academic All-Big Sky
• Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
• Phil Steele First Team All-American LB
• AFCA Second Team All-American LB
• First Team All-Big Sky LB
• Big Sky Conference 2021 Sacks Leader
• Steve Carlson Team MVP
• Doug Betters Golden Helmet Award
Had one of the best defensive seasons in UM history as a junior, finishing as the team and conference leader in sacks with 14, moving into top-10 in school history with 20.5 on his career… Finished as the team’s second leading overall tackler with 105 stops on the year, including 22 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles… Totaled a career-high of 11 tackles versus Montana State… Returned a fumble for a touchdown at Northern Arizona.
2019 (R-So.): Had a breakout season as Montana’s leader in sacks and No. 7 in the Big Sky in sacks as a stand-up linebacker. Played in all 14 of Montana’s games and made eight starts… Totaled 6.5 sacks for a loss of 56 yards… Was UM’s fifth-leading tackler with 56 total stops (21 solo)… Posted a career-high eight tackles against Monmouth… Also registered four pass breakups and two QB hits… Recovered a fumble in the win over Idaho.
2018 (So.):
• Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year
Was a redshirt after transferring to UM from the University of Mary
2017 (Fr.): Played in 10 games at Mary ... Posted 33 tackles, 18 solo ... Also posted 3.5 TFLs, one PBU ... Returned a fumble recovery 39 yards against Minnesota-Duluth
High School: Played in five state title games (three football, one baseball and one basketball)… 2014 state football championship… 2017 basketball state championship team… Football and basketball team captain as a senior and three-time baseball team captain… Selected to Montana-North Dakota and Montana East West all-star football games… First team all-state linebacker and fullback and the Montana Defense most valuable player… Posted 135 tackles with two interceptions, 18 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior… First team all-conference football player as a senior in 2016 and second team selection as a junior… Three-sport athlete who hit .484 with 60 RBIs and 76 hits… First team all-state baseball player… All-conference first team selection in baseball as a junior and senior… Son of Kelly and Jeanne O’Connell ... Majoring in Management & Entrepreneurship.
• Named second-team All-America by STATS and Phil Steele following his senior season
• First Team All-Big Sky for a second-straight year
• Named the team's Defensive MVP
• Presented the team's Tony Barbour Award, given annually to the player "who best exemplifies outstanding practice habits and makes an unselfish contribution to the betterment of the Grizzly Football Team."
• Academic All-Big Sky
Led the Big Sky in both TFLs (14) and sacks (8) for a second-straight year, despite missing the bulk of three games to injury. He finished his career at UM ranked among the program's career leaders in both sacks and TFLs with 28.5 sacks and 45 TFLs. His 45 tackles for loss tied him with the great Kroy Biermann and Josh Buss at No. 4 all-time in program history. Also finished his career with 28.5 career sacks, placing him at No. 6 all-time for the Grizzlies. With 242 career stops, he also finished among the top-40 UM tacklers of all time.
• Named the 2022 Big Sky Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
- Was the fourth Grizzly linebacker in the last five seasons to earn preseason MVP honors, joining standouts Jace Lewis (2020), Dante Olson (2019), and Josh Buss (2018) as honorees.
• A Stats Perform and HERO Sports preseason All-American
2020-21 (R-Jr.):
• Phil Steele Preseason 3rd team All-Big Sky
• Academic All-Big Sky
• Buck Buchanan Award Finalist
• Phil Steele First Team All-American LB
• AFCA Second Team All-American LB
• First Team All-Big Sky LB
• Big Sky Conference 2021 Sacks Leader
• Steve Carlson Team MVP
• Doug Betters Golden Helmet Award
Had one of the best defensive seasons in UM history as a junior, finishing as the team and conference leader in sacks with 14, moving into top-10 in school history with 20.5 on his career… Finished as the team’s second leading overall tackler with 105 stops on the year, including 22 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles… Totaled a career-high of 11 tackles versus Montana State… Returned a fumble for a touchdown at Northern Arizona.
2019 (R-So.): Had a breakout season as Montana’s leader in sacks and No. 7 in the Big Sky in sacks as a stand-up linebacker. Played in all 14 of Montana’s games and made eight starts… Totaled 6.5 sacks for a loss of 56 yards… Was UM’s fifth-leading tackler with 56 total stops (21 solo)… Posted a career-high eight tackles against Monmouth… Also registered four pass breakups and two QB hits… Recovered a fumble in the win over Idaho.
2018 (So.):
• Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year
Was a redshirt after transferring to UM from the University of Mary
2017 (Fr.): Played in 10 games at Mary ... Posted 33 tackles, 18 solo ... Also posted 3.5 TFLs, one PBU ... Returned a fumble recovery 39 yards against Minnesota-Duluth
High School: Played in five state title games (three football, one baseball and one basketball)… 2014 state football championship… 2017 basketball state championship team… Football and basketball team captain as a senior and three-time baseball team captain… Selected to Montana-North Dakota and Montana East West all-star football games… First team all-state linebacker and fullback and the Montana Defense most valuable player… Posted 135 tackles with two interceptions, 18 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior… First team all-conference football player as a senior in 2016 and second team selection as a junior… Three-sport athlete who hit .484 with 60 RBIs and 76 hits… First team all-state baseball player… All-conference first team selection in baseball as a junior and senior… Son of Kelly and Jeanne O’Connell ... Majoring in Management & Entrepreneurship.
Career Single Game Highs
Tackles: 11 (vs. Montana State, 2021)
Sacks: 2.5 (vs. Western Illinois, 2021, at Indiana St, 2022)
Pass breakups: 1 (4 occasions)
Montana vs Idaho Highlights
Saturday, September 27
Griz vs Indiana State Highlights
Tuesday, September 23
Griz football weekly press conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 22
Montana vs Indiana St. Highlights
Sunday, September 21
