He has a thick build and a strong lower body. He plays with great leverage and really explodes into his blocks.

He is good at kick out blocks and can seal defenders on the back side. He is not very athletic but is an effective cut blocker on outside runs.

He is such a good blocker, he is like having an extra guard on the field. He blocks well on the second level and is a real collision football player.

Conner is aggressive and competitive. He enjoys contact and looks to knock out defenders whenever he can.

With Tony Richardson likely to retire soon, taking a fullback makes perfect sense. He will eventually take over for “T-Rich” and will play special teams in the meantime.

He is very tough and has the rugged mentality of a special teamer. He is not particularly athletic but has the mindset to tackle and hit.

He is a good pass blocker and uses his strength to stand up blitzing linebackers. He has good hands and can catch balls out of the backfield but does not bring run after the catch ability.

You can give him the ball in short yardage situations because he has a low center of gravity and can run through arm tackles.

Conner is a very competitive player. He plays with a real mean streak, loves contact and looks to jack up defenders whenever he gets the chance.

He has great leadership qualities (was a team captain at Kentucky) and is a hard worker. He will be a traditional lead blocker for the Jets once Tony Richardson retires. Until then, he will play special teams with a likely focus on kick coverage.

Along with their additions of Vladimir DuCasse and Joe McKnight, the Jets are making another strong statement with their pick of John Conner. All three guys will be important contributors to the Jets’ running game and should see action in 2010.

Written by Alan Levin