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Jersey Number 56
Ryan O'Connell
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 230
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Fairfield, Conn.
- High School:
- Fairfield Prep / UPenn
CAREER: Throughout his four-year career at UPenn, O’Connell recorded 43 tackles, including 2.5 for loss of 3 yards (with 2 sacks for minus 3 yards), 2 QBHs and 1 PBU while appearing in 30 games with 1 start.
2026: O’Connell, who transferred to USC in the summer of 2026 from UPenn, looks to compete for playing time at linebacker as a redshirt senior in 2026.
UPENN: O’Connell recorded 27 tackles, including 2 for loss of 3 yards (with 2 sacks for minus 3 yards), 2 QBHs and 1 PBU as a redshirt junior in 2025.
O’Connell tallied 14 tackles, including 0.5 a tackle for loss as a redshirt sophomore in 2024.
O’Connell recorded 2 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
He did not see action as a true freshman in 2022.
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior in 2021, he served as team captain and helped lead Fairfield Prep to a Southern Connecticut Conference championship. He earned Walter Camp First Team All-State, New Haven Register First Team All-State, First Team All-Southern Connecticut Conference and CHSCA Connecticut Top 26 Players honors. He was named Fairfield Prep Defensive MVP and was recognized as one of GametimeCT's Five Connecticut Players to Watch.
He also competed in lacrosse and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
PERSONAL: O’Connell earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at UPenn in the spring of 2026. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at USC. He was named to the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Midwest Conference All-Academic Team. He was part of the Maroons of Character program at Chicago led by the Hyde Park Institute that pairs football players with mentors to build character both on and off of the field. His cousin, Paige Tepedino, is a freshman on the women’s lacrosse team at USC. His father, Robert, was a linebacker on the football team at TCU.
2026: O’Connell, who transferred to USC in the summer of 2026 from UPenn, looks to compete for playing time at linebacker as a redshirt senior in 2026.
UPENN: O’Connell recorded 27 tackles, including 2 for loss of 3 yards (with 2 sacks for minus 3 yards), 2 QBHs and 1 PBU as a redshirt junior in 2025.
O’Connell tallied 14 tackles, including 0.5 a tackle for loss as a redshirt sophomore in 2024.
O’Connell recorded 2 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
He did not see action as a true freshman in 2022.
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior in 2021, he served as team captain and helped lead Fairfield Prep to a Southern Connecticut Conference championship. He earned Walter Camp First Team All-State, New Haven Register First Team All-State, First Team All-Southern Connecticut Conference and CHSCA Connecticut Top 26 Players honors. He was named Fairfield Prep Defensive MVP and was recognized as one of GametimeCT's Five Connecticut Players to Watch.
He also competed in lacrosse and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
PERSONAL: O’Connell earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the Wharton School of Business at UPenn in the spring of 2026. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at USC. He was named to the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Midwest Conference All-Academic Team. He was part of the Maroons of Character program at Chicago led by the Hyde Park Institute that pairs football players with mentors to build character both on and off of the field. His cousin, Paige Tepedino, is a freshman on the women’s lacrosse team at USC. His father, Robert, was a linebacker on the football team at TCU.
Tuesday, July 28
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