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Steve Konopka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve Konopka (born May 12, 1976) is a former tight end/defensive tackle in the Arena Football League. He played most recently for the Utah Blaze 1999 New York Giants NFL defensive tackle.

High school years

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Konopka attended Conard High School in West Hartford, Connecticut, where he was a two-time All-State selection. He recorded 25 sacks and 189 tackles in 28 games in his career, including 12 sacks and 63 tackles as a senior.[1][2] Konopka was offered a scholarship to UConn, but it was withdrawn due to academic reasons.[1]

College career

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Konopka played college football at Central Connecticut State University, where he was a three-time All-Northeast Conference (NEC) selection.[3] As a senior, he was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Year after recording a conference-leading 12 sacks, despite missing three games.[1] He also broke the school record for sacks in a game, recording five in a win over Saint Francis.[1] In another win over St. John's, he tallied four sacks, an interception, and a blocked field goal.[1] However, an ankle injury prevented him from playing in any senior all-star games.[4]

Professional career

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Konopka was projected to be a third- or fourth-round draft pick.[5] After going undrafted in the 1999 NFL draft, he signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants, a team he had worked out with multiple times.[4] However, Konopka was cut that August after sustaining a hamstring injury.[2][6]

Konopka was invited to join the New England Sea Wolves of the Arena Football League in 2000 during the second week of their training camp, transitioning to the fullback position.[2] He recorded one sack, one pass deflection, and one reception in the final preseason game against the Carolina Cobras and earned a spot on the final 30-man roster.[7] However, Konopka suffered an injury in the preseason which he aggravated in the season opener, forcing him to miss nine games after undergoing rotator cuff surgery.[3][8]

Konopka later played with the Las Vegas Gladiators from 2003 to 2006.

On October 3, 2006, he signed with the Utah Blaze.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Konopka: Big Fish From Small Pond". Hartford Courant. April 13, 1999. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Gonzalez, Roberto (April 6, 2000). "Will Konopka's Career Take Off?". Hartford Courant. p. 136. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Gonzalez, Roberto (June 30, 2000). "Konopka Looks To Shoulder His Load". Hartford Courant. p. 33. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Eagan, Matt (April 19, 1999). "Konopka Signs With Giants". Hartford Courant. p. 126. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Anderson, Woody (September 4, 1998). "Konopka Is About To Make A Big Splash". Hartford Courant. p. 247. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Altavilla, John (August 26, 1999). "Super Bowl Talk? Fassel Won't Hear Of It?". Hartford Courant. p. 110. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Konopka Makes Sea Wolves". Hartford Courant. April 8, 2000. p. 73. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Surgery For Konopka". Hartford Courant. April 30, 2000. p. 89. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Blaze sign free agent lineman". Daily Herald. October 4, 2006. p. 16. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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