Missouri State

 Veteran defensive lineman and two-year letterman who will add needed experience and leadership to the Bears[apos] defensive front this fall ... 2008: Saw action in five games in a reserve capacity ... Recorded his only solo tackle, tackle for loss and sack in win at Indiana State (11/22/08) ... Assisted on tackles against Southern Illinois (10/25/08) and at South Dakota State (11/1/08) ... 2007: Was ninth on the team in tackles (46) and sixth in tackles for loss (3.0) while starting seven games at left end and playing all 11 ... Posted career-high 12 stops in win over Illinois State (10/6/07), including 10 assisted tackles ... Had 5 solo tackles and 10 total at Western Illinois (10/13/07) ... Snagged first career interception at Youngstown State (9/29/07) and posted a 19-yard return ... Also claimed five tackles vs. Missouri S&T (8/30/07) and UNI (11/3/07) ... 2006: Played in one game and recorded a solo tackle in win over Southwest Baptist (9/9/06) ... 2005: Redshirted his first year at Missouri State ... High School: Two-year starter for Coach Tony Severino[apos]s Rockhurst Hawklets in Kansas City ... Was third on the team in tackles and second in tackles for loss (14) with 8 sacks as a senior in 2004 while helping his team to a Class 6 runner-up finish ... Earned all-district and second-team all-state honors his senior year while sharing team captain duties ... Recorded five fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown, as a junior ... Team won three straight district titles and the Missouri 5A title in 2002 .... Was also an all-state discus thrower ... Personal: Connor Michael McDonough was born 10/12/86 in Kansas City, Mo. ... Son of Tim and Mary McDonough of Belton, Mo. ... Majoring in Accounting ... Has three brothers, Daniel, David and Sean, and sister, Megan ... His uncle, Dan McDonough was an All-Big Eight defensive lineman at Missouri and went on to play in the CFL and NFL.