John Lako

MAC Distinguished Scholar Fall 2019 - 12/20/19

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Height:
6-2
Weight:
225
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Monroe, Mich.
High School:
St. Mary Catholic HS

As a Redshirt Senior (2019): Team captain ... first-team All-MAC ... first-team All-MAC by Phil Steele ... MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete ... Academic All-MAC ... CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee ... started all 12 games at linebacker ... finished career tied with teammate Josh Ward at No. 2 all-time in most games played (50) ... nationally ranked No. 3 in total tackles (11.5) and No. 33 in solo tackles (5.0) while leading all MAC defenders ... Zips’ defensive leader (for the second consecutive season) with 138 tackles, including a team-best 60 solo stops, a team-best 9.5 TFL, two break-ups, two hurries, a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown ... recorded double-digit tackles in nine games ... against Ohio, had eight tackles, two break-ups, and a hurry ... at Miami, led the defense with 14 tackles, a sack for a loss of eight yards, and an interception ... returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter for the second time in his career ... against Eastern Michigan, had six tackles ... at Bowling Green, had 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and a hurry ... at Northern Illinois, led the Zips with 15 tackles, including eight solo stops ... against Buffalo, Zips’ leader with 14 tackles, including 2.0 TFL ... against Kent State, had 10 tackles, including a TFL ... ... named NFF Scholar-Athlete of the Day (Oct. 15, 2019) ... at UMass, led the defense with 13 tackles, including six solo stops ... against Troy, had 12 tackles ... at Central Michigan, led the defense with 11 tackles, including a career-high eight solo stops ... also had a 25-yard fumble recovery, the second recovery of his career ... against UAB, led the defense with 14 tackles ... at Illinois, finished second with eight tackles, including five solo stops ... preseason first-team All-MAC by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele ... nominee for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Wuerffel Trophy, and William V. Campbell Trophy.

As a Redshirt Junior (2018): Third-team All-MAC … Academic All-MAC … MAC Scholar-Athlete (all sports) twice this fall (Sept. 19, Oct. 31) … Dean’s List student … 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-American nominee … Harry “Doc” Smith Award as the most outstanding junior on defense … former walk-on … moved into starting role this fall … played in all 12 games with 10 starts at Will linebacker … team’s leading defender with 126 tackles, 10.0 TFL for a loss of 27 yards, three hurries, a fumble recovery, and a hurry … in the win over Morgan State, led the Zips with six tackles, including four solo stops and a TFL …, joined the starting line-up in the stunning win at Northwestern and led the Zips with 12 tackles … had 10 tackles at Iowa State … led the Zips at Buffalo with eight tackles, including seven solo stops and 1.5 TFL for a loss of five yards … in the win at Kent State, led the Zips with 13 tackles and a break-up … recorded a career-high 23 tackles in the win over Central Michigan … MAC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 29) … had 14 tackles and assisted on a sack for a loss of four yards against Northern Illinois … at Eastern Michigan, had 10 tackles, including 2.0 TFL, and a hurry … lettered.

As a Redshirt Sophomore (2017): Academic All-American nominee … Academic All-MAC … Academic Award … played in all 14 games … also saw action on the kickoff and punt units ... fifth on defense with 69 tackles, 4.5 TFL, four hurries, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a sack … in the Boca Raton Bowl, had eight tackles … in the MAC Championship game against Toledo, had two tackles and a forced fumble … in the win over Kent State, had two tackles … in the win over Ohio, had four tackles, including a TFL … at Miami, had four tackles and a hurry … made five solo stops in the win over Buffalo … had seven tackles at Toledo … in the win at Western Michigan, had five tackles … in the win over Ball State, had six tackles and a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, marking his second career interception and his first pick six … in the MAC win at Bowling Green, had 10 tackles, including a career-high seven solo stops … forced the first fumble of his career on Troy’s opening drive … UA scored on the turnover with a 27-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead … had four tackles against Iowa State… had a solo stop and an interception in the win over Arkansas Pine Bluff … came off the bench at No. 6 Penn State for three tackles … lettered.

As a Redshirt Freshman (2016): Academic All-MAC … played in all 12 games with three starts at Mike linebacker … also saw action on the kickoff, punt, and punt return units … finished with 36 tackles … made seven tackles against Toledo … had a season-high 13 stops against No. 25 Western Michigan … had five tackles in the win over Miami while making his first appearance in the starting line-up … made three solo stops against Appalachian State … had four tackles in the win at Marshall … made collegiate debut in the win over VMI … lettered.

As a Freshman (2015): Named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year … redshirted.

High School: A 2014 first-team All-State honoree … played for coach Jack Giarmo at St. Mary Catholic Central HS … three-time letterwinner at linebacker and running back … helped team to the 2014 state championship title.

Personal: Born April 26, 1997 … parents are Ronald Lako and Nancy Lako … has an older sister Abi … earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management in May 2019 ... pursuing an M.B.A. in finance.