John Conner (American football)

John Conner (born June 8, 1987) is an American football fullback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Conner earned a 2009 College Football All-America Team selection and was one of the best fullback prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft, and was drafted in the fifth round by the New York Jets. He is nicknamed "The Terminator" because of the name he shares with main character from the popular movie franchise and because of the crushing blocks he lays on defensive players.

High school career
Conner attended Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio, where he was a two-year starter at running back. He rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry, as a senior. That year, Lakota West gained a 8–3 record and a berth in the state playoffs. Conner was subsequently named first-team All-Greater Miami Conference and honorable-mention All-Southwest Ohio.

Unrecognized as a prospect by the two major recruiting services, Rivals.com and Scout.com, Conner was not offered an athletic scholarship, although he received some recruiting attention from Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Illinois, among others. He eventually chose to walk on with the Kentucky Wildcats.

College career
As a true freshman at Kentucky, Conner appeared in the first three games of the 2005 season on special teams before sustaining a season-ending injury. He received a medical redshirt and retained the year of eligibility.

In his redshirt freshman season, Conner played in all 13 games, starting the first three at fullback. In his sophomore year he also played all 13 games, starting four. He scored four touchdowns and also made two tackles in kick coverage.

By his junior year, Kentucky frequently opened with a fullback in the lineup, giving him 11 starts in 13 games. In a game versus Georgia, Conner set career highs with seven rushes for 26 yards.

Prior to his senior season, Conner was named the "best blocking back" in the Southeastern Conference in the Birmingham News 2009 preseason edition. After a solid performance throughout the season, Conner earned All-American honors by Pro Football Weekly, which places an extra premium on talent and draft value in the selection process.

2010 NFL Draft
Considered one of the best fullbacks available in the 2010 NFL Draft, Conner was selected in the fifth round (139th overall) by the New York Jets.

New York Jets
"He does all the things that NFL teams ask their fullbacks to do. He blocks. He catches the ball. And when you need him to make a carry in short yardage, he almost always picks up first downs. He's going to have a long career in the league."

- UK offensive head coach Joker Phillips

In 2012, Conner struggled with an MCL sprain and hamstring injury, and was released by the Jets on October 17.

Cincinnati Bengals
Conner was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals on December 15, 2012 after the team placed fullback Chris Pressley on the injured reserve list.