Adam Konar Explained

Team:Calgary Stampeders
Image Upright:1
Status:Active
Import:no
Position1:Linebacker
Birth Date:10 October 1993
Birth Place:Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Number:38
Amateur Title:CJFL
Amateur Team:Langley Rams
Cis:British Columbia
Calgary
High School:Vancouver College
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:225
Cfldraftedyear:2015
Cfldraftedround:3
Cfldraftedpick:25
Cfldraftedteam:Edmonton Eskimos
Playing Years1:
Playing Team1:Edmonton Eskimos
Playing Years2:
Playing Team2:BC Lions
Playing Team3:Edmonton Elks
Playing Years4:–present
Playing Team4:Calgary Stampeders
Career Highlights:
Cfl:adam-konar/161546/

Adam Konar (born October 10, 1993) is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally drafted 25th overall in the 2015 CFL Draft by the Edmonton Eskimos and played for six non-consecutive seasons with the team. He played CIS football for the Calgary Dinos.

Early life

Konar played high school football for the Fighting Irish of Vancouver College as a running back and linebacker.[1] In 2009, Konar suffered a broken fibula and missed post-season games.[2] He was named MVP of the 2010 Subway Bowl with three touchdowns on offence and two interceptions on defence.[3]

University career

In 2011, Konar played college football as a linebacker for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds. He earned the program's rookie of the year award. Due to poor grades, Konar was forced to leave UBC before the 2012 season and take classes at Capilano University. Instead of playing college football in 2012, he joined the Langley Rams of the Canadian Junior Football League. Konar recorded 16 solo tackles, five sacks, three interceptions, and four fumble recoveries in his one season with the Rams, earning himself the B.C. Football Conference's Outstanding Defensive Player award.[4]

While Konar originally intended to return to UBC after a year with the Rams, he instead decided to transfer to the University of Calgary and play for the Calgary Dinos. Konar cited strong academic support as one reason he transferred to Calgary.[5] He missed the entire 2013 season due to a torn ACL injury suffered on the first day of training camp. In 2014, Konar was named a first team All-Canadian after achieving 34 solo tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble.[6] [7] He recorded a team-high eight tackles in the Dinos' playoff loss against the Manitoba Bisons.[8]

Professional career

Edmonton Eskimos

Konar was listed by the CFL Scouting Bureau as the 16th ranked draft prospect in December 2014, but did not appear on the final rankings.[9] [10] He was invited to the national CFL Combine in early 2015.[11] Konar was selected in the third round of the 2015 CFL Draft by the Edmonton Eskimos with the 25th overall pick.[12] After making the active roster out of training camp, Konar debuted in the season opener against the Toronto Argonauts on June 27, 2015. He would go on to win the Grey Cup with the Eskimos in his rookie season. He played in 34 games with the Eskimos over four years and was released on the eve of 2019 training camp on May 18, 2019.

BC Lions

Shortly after his release from the Eskimos, Konar signed with his hometown BC Lions on May 20, 2019.[13] He played in 17 regular season games where he had six defensive tackles and eight special teams tackles.[14] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season. In 2021, Konar played in all 14 games of a truncated season where he had six defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles, and one sack.[14] He signed a contract extension with the Lions on February 3, 2021.[15]

Edmonton Elks

Konar returned to the Edmonton Elks in free agency on February 8, 2022.[16] He played in all 18 games in 2022 where he had 52 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, two sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles.[14] In 2023, he again played in 18 regular season games and recorded a career-high 73 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.[14] On January 9, 2024, Konar was released by the Elks.[17]

Calgary Stampeders

On January 22, 2024, it was announced that Konar had signed with the Calgary Stampeders.[18]

Personal life

Adam Konar is the son of Kevin Konar, former linebacker and Grey Cup champion for the BC Lions.[19] Konar is also the cousin of Jamie Boreham, a retired CFL kicker.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Arden. Zwelling. Zwelling: Inside Vancouver's football factory. July 10, 2015. CFL.ca. June 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711203650/http://www.cfl.ca/article/zwelling-inside-vancouver-s-football-factory. July 11, 2015. dead.
  2. News: Tsumara. Howard. MVP Konar helps lift Irish to first Subway Bowl Triple A title since 1994. July 10, 2015. The Province. December 5, 2010.
  3. News: Kingston. Gary. Langley Rams' Adam Konar back in the running. July 10, 2015. The Vancouver Sun. November 7, 2012.
  4. News: Landreville . Troy . Rams down Raiders to win B.C. championship . July 10, 2015 . Langley Advance . October 29, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711130009/http://www.langleyadvance.com/sports/rams-down-raiders-to-win-b-c-championship-1.484882 . July 11, 2015 .
  5. News: Mingo. Rita. Son of B.C. Lions legend ready to make a name for himself on the U of C Dinos. July 10, 2015. Calgary Herald. September 3, 2014.
  6. News: D'Archi. Tony. TSN.ca CFL Draft Profile: Adam Konar. July 10, 2015. TSN. March 18, 2015.
  7. Web site: Adam Konar . Edmonton Eskimos . July 10, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711091241/http://www.esks.com/roster/show/id/8091 . July 11, 2015 .
  8. News: Austin. Daniel. Calgary Dinos drop the ball against Manitoba Bisons. July 10, 2015. Calgary Sun. November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711193349/http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/11/15/calgary-dinos-drop-the-ball-against-manitoba-bisons. July 11, 2015. dead.
  9. News: Full Rankings: McEwen rises into the top-10. July 10, 2015. CFL.ca. December 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141213005314/http://www.cfl.ca/article/full-rankings-mcewen-rises-into-the-top-10. December 13, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  10. News: Draft 15: Final Scouting Bureau rankings. July 10, 2015. CFL.ca. April 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151005024556/http://cfl.ca/article/final-scouting-bureau-rankings-released. October 5, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
  11. News: Mitchell. Scott. Retired Stamps' Dimitri Tsoumpas to coach Calgary Dinos offensive line. July 10, 2015. Calgary Sun. February 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711174116/http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/02/26/retired-stamps-dimitri-tsoumpas-to-coach-calgary-dinos-offensive-line. July 11, 2015. dead.
  12. News: Scott. Morley. Eskimos welcome five from 2015 draft. July 10, 2015. 630 CHED. May 28, 2015.
  13. News: Lions land hometown linebacker Adam Konar. May 20, 2019.
  14. Web site: Adam Konar . . January 10, 2024.
  15. News: Baker, Matt . Lions ink National LB Adam Konar to extension . BCLions.com . February 3, 2021 . February 22, 2021.
  16. Web site: Adam Konar returns to the Green and Gold . . February 8, 2022 . February 8, 2022.
  17. Web site: 2024-01-09 . TRANSACTIONS Elks release Taylor Cornelius (QB) and Adam Konar (LB) . 2024-01-10 . . en.
  18. Web site: Stamps add Konar, re-sign Graham . . January 22, 2024.
  19. News: Moddejonge. Gerry. Edmonton Eskimos rookie Adam Konar plays 1st game in hometown of Vancouver. July 10, 2015. Calgary Sun. June 19, 2015.