After starting his junior season at strong-side linebacker, he was moved to middle linebacker during the spring … made a smooth transition and looks to have an all-conference senior season … returns as the team’s leading tackler … good run stopper … displays good size, speed and intensity on the field … solid open-field tackler … registered 16 starts over his career … used on special teams … named all-BIG EAST preseason second team by Phil Steele’s … Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll … BIG EAST Academic All-Star … bowl trips: 2008 Fiesta, 2008 Meineke, 2010 Gator.
2009 (Jr.): Named second-team all-BIG EAST by Phil Steele … started all 13 games … saw action on more than 625 plays, including a season-high 64 plays at Auburn … used on 50 or more plays in eight games … led the team in tackles with 78 total stops, including one sack and six tackles for loss … also had a forced fumble, a pass breakup and returned a fumble 53 yards … tied for No. 17 in the BIG EAST Conference in tackles … WVU Defensive Champion: Syracuse … posted a double-figure tackle performance (11) against UConn … finished with five or more tackles in 10 games … registered five tackles against Florida State in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl … collected two tackles, including assisting on a tackle for loss at Rutgers … finished with six tackles and a pass breakup against Pitt … assisted on six tackles at Cincinnati, including assisting on a two-yard tackle for loss …team-high eight tackles against Louisville … team-high eight tackles, including assisting on a tackle for loss at USF … season-high 11 tackles and a forced fumble against Connecticut … collected five tackles, including three solo stops against Marshall … posted four tackles, including three unassisted tackles and returned a fumbled interception 53 yards at Syracuse … registered eight tackles, including four solo stops, including a tackle for loss against Colorado …collected six tackles, including five unassisted and a tackle for loss at Auburn … finished with a sack and four tackles against East Carolina … registered five tackles, including three unassisted tackles and 1.5 for loss against Liberty.
2008 (So.): Played in all 13 games and started two … had a slow start but showed solid defensive ability the last half of the year … saw action on more than 175 plays, including a season-high 36 at Pitt … started at middle linebacker against Villanova and North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl … registered 30 tackles, including one tackle for loss and one interception … biggest play of the season was an interception that sealed the win over UNC … also finished with three tackles … season-high nine tackles, including five solo stops against USF … seven tackles against Villanova … four tackles, including an assisted tackle for loss at East Carolina … three tackles at Pitt … two tackles at Connecticut … assisted tackle for loss against Auburn … solo tackle at Colorado.
2007 (Fr.): One of six true freshmen to play … saw playing time in his first season as a backup at the strong-side linebacker position, mainly on special teams and also as a backup fullback … saw action in all 13 games … posted 14 tackles, including six unassisted tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss … four tackles, including assisting on a tackle for loss against Connecticut … three tackles against East Carolina … solo tackle at Maryland, at Syracuse and against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
Prep: Three-year captain and four-year team most valuable player … four-year all-conference and three-year all-county and all-metro selection … Montgomery County Player of the Year ... linebacker who recorded 125 tackles, nine forced fumbles as a senior at Wheaton High ... career totals of 414 tackles, 26 sacks, 15 FF and two interceptions at Wheaton and Walt Whitman Highs ... career numbers on offense: 3,200 yards rushing, 800 yards receiving, 49 scores ... three-year starter in baseball ... third-place state finisher in wrestling as a junior and fourth-place as a sophomore ... honor roll student.
Personal: Birthday is Nov. 9 … son of Harry and Angela Lazear ... one of two children … majoring in multidisciplinary studies.
