Lansanah might have been born 30 years too late. Anyone that has seen him perform for the Huskies over the last three seasons as a starter can tell that this blue-collar type is a throwback to another era, reminding many of the days of such tough, hard-nosed middle linebackers like Jack Reynolds (Rams) and Mike Curtis (Colts).

The heart and soul of Connecticut's defense, the team captain made a smooth and rapid adjustment from weak-side outside linebacker to the middle during his senior year. Perhaps no better testament to his "tough as nails" attitude came early in the 2007 season. Writhing in pain from a high right ankle sprain, Lansanah had to be carted off the field in the third quarter of the Maine contest. Doctors anticipated it would be at least a month before he returned to the gridiron, but seven days later he posted seven tackles and assisted on two sacks in the Temple clash.

The Harrisburg High School product was named first-team Mid-Penn All-Conference at tight end and second-team All-Conference at linebacker as a senior. He participated in the East-West All-Star Game, posting 12 tackles. He also played forward for the 16-0 state championship basketball team and was named the MVP of the Slam Fest Tournament.

Lansanah enrolled at Connecticut in 2003, but spent the year competing on the scout team. He appeared in 11 games as a reserve weak-side outside linebacker in 2004, playing behind senior Maurice Lloyd. He finished his first campaign by delivering 23 tackles (10 solos) and a pass break-up for the Huskies.

With Lloyd having graduated, Lansanah went on to start 10 games at weak-side linebacker in 2005, sitting out the Army clash with a neck stinger. He still managed to lead the team with 80 tackles (26 solos), including three sacks and 11 stops for losses. He caused a fumble, broke up five passes and intercepted two others. Led by its young linebacker, Connecticut would finish the season ranked sixth in the nation, allowing just 297.18 yards per game in total defense.

As a junior, Lansanah received All-Big East Conference second-team honors. Lining up at weak-side linebacker, he again led the Huskies with 99 tackles (45 solos), adding two sacks and 9 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused a fumble and intercepted four passes, returning one for a touchdown.

Lansanah was named team MVP and first-team All-Big East Conference in 2007. The newly installed middle linebacker led the team in tackles for the third straight season, posting a career-high 121 hits (49 solos) to rank third in the league with an average of 9.31 tackles per game. He collected two sacks and his 14 stops for losses rank 10th on the school's season-record chart. He also caused and recovered a fumble, as he again returned one of four interceptions for a touchdown while breaking up three other throws.

In 46 games at Connecticut, Lansanah started 36 contests. He ranks ninth in school annals with 323 tackles (130 solos), adding seven sacks for minus-46 yards. His 35 stops for losses of 114 yards rank 10th in Husky history. He caused three fumbles, recovered another and deflected 10 passes. He ranks eighth on the school career record lists with 10 interceptions and 162 yards in returns, including two touchdowns.

Positives: Has a thick frame with good upper and lower body muscle development … Lines up in various spots on the field (mostly in the middle) and has experience throughout the linebacker unit … Will put his hand down and rush the quarterback, at times, using his natural strength well to shed … Stays low in his pads and is very good at splitting double teams and getting into the backfield to pressure the pocket … Combative type who is hard to take off his feet, and with his low center of gravity and leg drive he is very effective at pushing back the outside runners into the inside lanes … Has deceptive speed, but good feet and balance to flow to the ball and be in position to make the play … Has some quick twitch to him in the short area, but just lacks long pursuit speed … Comes out of his stance and attacks ballcarriers with good urgency and strength … Stays on his feet as he moves through traffic and regains his balance quickly when knocked down … Will sometimes over-battle with a lineman, but he will generally slip blocks and run under opponents to make the play … Demonstrates good instincts keying and diagnosing the plays … Has the raw power to play right up on the line in the "A" gap formations, showing the leg drive to step up and fill the holes … Attacks instantly when he recognizes the play and shows above average anticipation coming on the blitz … Takes on blockers with good aggression, using his hands well to protect from the low blows … Has decent change of direction, showing a nice spring in his step along with the lateral flow to string plays wide … Fights through traffic and gets to the quarterback in his blitz pursuit, showing determination to get to the ball … Physical and punishing hitter who attacks ballcarriers rather than waiting for the play to come to him and shows a strong desire to make contact … Excellent traffic player with superb balance and good leg drive avoiding the trash.

Negatives: Will sometimes get too over-eager when trying to shed blocks and stays too long on that battle (needs to try avoiding some blockers) and when his hands get too wide out of his frame doing this, it will cause him to get locked onto and ridden out of the action … Has good read-and-react skills, but sometimes fails to see the blocking schemes and can be caught up in traffic … Sometimes tries to punish the opponent rather than wrapping and securing as a tackler … Lacks the ideal foot speed to get back and cover in the deep zone and is better served handling short-area receivers … Can control the tight end and mirror his moves in the short area, but is not effective mirroring the speedier receivers on deep routes … Shorter than ideal and lacks the speed to play on the outside, but has a good forward burst and fluid lateral agility to play off blocks and move down the line a middle linebacker … Flashes a good spin move, but his swim moves are sometimes negated when he short arms … Needs work getting in and out of his breaks (has decent hip turn, but takes extra steps in transition).

Compares To: KIRK MORRISON-Oakland … Lansanah is not the type you walk away impressed with after putting a stop-watch on him, but few middle linebackers carry their pads as well as he does on the field. He is a good downhill tackler who likes the contact taking on ballcarriers inside the rush lanes. He has good change of direction agility and can cover the pass in the short area, but doesn't have the timed speed to mirror receivers on deep routes. Like Morrison, he has experience at more than one position, but he is best in the middle, as he gets most of his production working in the trenches.

2005: Sat out the Army game (10/01) with a neck stinger.

2007: Was carted off the field in the third quarter of the Maine game (9/08) after suffering a right high ankle sprain.

Campus: 4.69 in the 40-yard dash … 365-pound bench press … 535-pound squat … 320-pound power clean … 30-inch vertical jump … 31 7/8-inch arm length … 9 ½-inch hands.

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Harrisburg (Pa.) High School, earning first-team Mid-Penn All-Conference honors at tight end and second-team All-Conference recognition at linebacker as a senior … Also participated in the East-West All-Star Game, posting 12 tackles … Played forward for the 16-0 state championship basketball team and was named the MVP of the Slam Fest Tournament.

Sociology major … Born Daniel Delray Lansanah on 8/28/85 … Resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.