Not since the playing days of All-American linebacker Dexter Coakley (1993-96) has a Mountaineer defensive player made the type of impact Lynch did at Appalachian State. A consummate playmaker, he ranks among the all-time leaders in NCAA Division 1-AA/Championship Subdivision history in tackles, blocked kicks, interceptions, interception return yardage and passes defended.

Lynch also ranks among the Southern Conference and school all-time elite in fumbles forced and fumbles recovered. He is the first ASU player to lead the team in interceptions all four seasons and the first Mountaineer to gain over 100 yards on interception returns in three seasons.

The team was dependent on Lynch, having compiled a 45-11 record with their star safety in the lineup, but only a 7-4 mark with him on the sideline. In games in which he recorded an interception, the team was 22-0. In 2007, Lynch became the Mountaineers' first three-time All-American first-team selection since two-time Buchanan Award winner Dexter Coakley (1994-96) and also became the school's first four-time All-Conference performer since Chip Hooks (1991-94).

A National Honor Society recipient at Evangelical Christian High School, Lynch was a standout defensive back and running back. He was twice selected to the All-State Class A and All-Lee County squads and was a three-time All-Area choice by the Fort Meyers News-Press. He was twice named District XVI Player of the Year, adding Lee County Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Lynch rushed for 3,000 yards and registered 31 interceptions over his career. He collected 1,101 yards with 11 touchdowns on 120 carries (9.2-yard average), as he also caught 18 passes for 490 yards and seven scores as a senior. On defense, he registered 93 tackles and 11 interceptions during his final campaign.

Lynch enrolled at Appalachian State in 2003, appearing in 11 games while starting the final 10 at free safety. He was the only freshman named All-Southern Conference that season, when he led the team with six interceptions and four fumble recoveries. He ranked sixth on the team with 57 tackles (30 solo), including one for a loss and forced a pair of fumbles. He deflected four passes and gained 14 yards on a kickoff return.

Lynch was limited to just two games as a sophomore. He suffered a fractured left elbow late in the Eastern Kentucky game returning a punt, and underwent surgery two weeks later. He made 13 tackles (nine solo) with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in 2004.

Lynch had a banner 2005 campaign. He ranked third in the league and led the team with six interceptions, including two picks in the Eastern Kentucky game. He garnered first-team All-American honors from I-AA.org and second-team accolades from the Associated Press and The Sports Network.

That season, he was also named to the All-Southern Conference first-team and posted 92 tackles (39 solo) while starting all 15 games. He caused a fumble, had 1 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage and batted away seven passes.

In 2006, Lynch was named first-team All-American by College Sporting News and second-team by The Sports Network. The first-team All-Southern Conference choice sat out two late-season games with a right arm (ulna) fracture, but still finished third on the team with 85 tackles (43 solo), including five tackles for losses. He ranked tied for ninth in the nation with a team-high five interceptions and also led the Mountaineers with six pass breakups and three blocked kicks. He also recovered a pair of fumbles, returning one 25 yards for a touchdown.

A 2007 All-American first-team choice and National Defensive Player of the Year finalist by The NFL Draft Report, Lynch added national honors from the Associated Press, Walter Camp and the Sports Network. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in the NCAA Championship Subdivision ranks, as that honor went to Montana defensive end Kroy Bierman. Biermann received 35 first-place votes and 305 points to edge Lynch by five points in the closest Buchanan Award voting in history. Lynch also received 35 first-place votes out of the 105 ballots cast by a panel of sports information directors and selected media.

The Mountaineers' safety gained national attention by blocking a kick that sealed ASU's upset win over Michigan in the season opener, going on to record 111 tackles (71 solo) in 15 games. He made three stops behind the line of scrimmage, caused two fumbles and recovered another. He again led the team and Southern Conference with six interceptions and also batted away eleven throws. He blocked three kicks, returning a blocked punt 33 yards.

In 56 games at Appalachian State, Lynch started his last 55. He ranks sixth in school history with 358 tackles (192 solo), adding 10 ½ tackles behind the line of scrimmage for 24 yards in total losses. He is tied for 10th in ASU history with six forced fumbles and tied for third with eight fumble recoveries, scoring twice while gaining a total of 31 yards on three returns.

Lynch deflected 28 passes and ranks second at ASU with a Southern Conference all-time record 24 interceptions. His 395 yards on interception returns set a school record. His 52 total passes defended established an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision all-time record. He gained 40 yards on two punt returns, 14 yards on a kickoff return and ranks second in ASU annals with six blocked kicks.

Positives: Has a developing frame with good upper-body thickness, large, natural hands and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk for a potential move to strong safety at the next level … Has a tight midsection with adequate thickness in his thighs and calves … Compensates for some hip stiffness with a short stride to help him open his hips quicker in transition … Has excellent field vision, getting a good jump on plays in front of him and is smart enough not to bite on play action or misdirection … Alert player who quickly reads and diagnoses the plays … Stays in control in his backpedal, operating at the proper pad level … Shows urgency in pursuit, generating a strong forward burst, as he can turn and accelerate without having to gather or take wasted steps … Reacts to plays in front of him with no hesitation, quickly defending vs. the curls and out patterns … Does well in the classroom and in taking plays from the chalkboard to the playing field and will not have problems digesting a complicated playbook … Emotional team leader who takes well to hard coaching … Has no known off-field issues and is mature beyond his age … Has the field awareness to easily break down plays and locate the ball, doing a very good job of staying low in his pads and taking proper angles to close on and make the play … His field vision when playing in the shallow zone allows him to fill rush lanes in an instant while breaking sharply on the ball in underneath passing situations … Can mirror tight ends on underneath routes and shows good anticipation skills and awareness dropping back in the zone … Has a nose for the ball and natural hands to make the interception … Quick to support and will not shy away from contact filling rush lanes … Will jump and extend for the ball in traffic, displaying the timing needed to disrupt the pass … Smart athlete who can call defensive signals, making the adjustments for the defensive unit … Has the functional foot quickness to turn and burst out of his backpedal early … Aggressive tackler who times hits well and will sacrifice his body to go vertical to get to the ball … Loves to mix it up in the trenches and will play with injuries that would sideline some athletes … Has soft, large and natural hands for the interception, properly extending his arms to catch away from the framework of the body (see 2007 Furman and Western Carolina games) … Good wrap-up tackler when he keeps his pad level down (will get a bit reckless when he gets his hands outside his framework) … Has the knack for timing the pass, consistently getting his hands up in the receiver's face and shows great zone awareness vs. combo routes … With his ability to take proper angles to the ball, he also shows the hand usage needed to slip blocks in the open … Uses his hands aggressively to shed and has adequate power to challenge the receivers to get into their routes coming off the line (prevented receivers from getting into their route progression 26 times in 2007; see Michigan, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Eastern Washington games) … Determined tackler in run support, using his hands well to fight off low blocks … Best when making plays in the box, as he is a very good at keeping the action in front of him.

Negatives: Has decent strength, but will need to bulk up and improve his overall power base to compete at the next level … Possesses shorter-than-ideal arm length (28 7/8-inches), but compensates with soft, natural hands, good leaping ability and above-average timing to compete for the ball at its highest point … Lacks blazing quickness, which could result in him moving to strong safety at the next level … Bit stiff in his hips when he attempts to transition, but shows good ability to plant-and-drive, coming out of his breaks cleanly … Best when making plays in front of him, as he lacks the second gear to recover when trying to stay with the speedy receivers on deep routes … Made marked improvement with his tackle technique as a senior, but earlier in his career, he would tend to duck his head before making contact, causing him to either overextend or see the ballcarrier slip off his tackles … Will get a little reckless attempting to make plays in space and is better served working in close quarters … Does not have the timed speed to stay on top of the routes through the deep secondary … Hard worker in the training room, but needs to maintain that program year-round, as he will get out of shape during the offseason.

Compares To: JOHN LYNCH-Denver … It is a coincidence they both share a last name, but there are many similarities in their game. The collegiate Lynch needs to improve his overall strength to generate punishing tackles John Lynch displays, but he made marked improvement as a senior. With a good offseason weight-training program, he could be ready to contribute in nickel and dime packages in his first pro season. Lynch shows the same ball-anticipation skills and field awareness as the elder Lynch and does not have that blazing speed you look for to mirror receivers in the deep secondary, but with his ability to locate the ball and makes plays inside the box, he might earn a starting job quicker as a strong safety at the next level.

2004: Missed the final nine games after he suffered a left elbow fracture returning a punt in the final minute vs. Eastern Kentucky (9/11). Underwent surgery two weeks after the injury and had two screws inserted.

2006: Suffered a right arm (ulna) fracture vs. The Citadel (11/04), sitting out the next two games vs. Western Carolina (11/11) and Coastal Carolina (11/25).

Campus: 4.62 in the 40-yard dash (ran with a pulled hamstring) … 4.05 20-yard shuttle … 6.5 three-cone drill … 33-inch vertical jump … 28 7/8-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands … Right-handed … 31/41 Wonderlic score.

Attended Evangelical Christian (Fort Meyers, Fla.) High School, playing football for head coach Brian Lynch (father) … Standout defensive back and running back … Twice selected to the All-State Class A and All-Lee County squads and was a three-time All-Area choice by the Fort Meyers News-Press … Twice named District XVI Player of the Year, adding Lee County Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior … Rushed for 3,000 yards and registered 31 interceptions over his career … Collected 1,101 yards with 11 touch-downs on 120 carries (9.2-yard average), as he also caught 18 passes for 490 yards and seven scores as a senior … On defense, he registered 93 tackles and 11 interceptions during his final campaign … National Honor Society member.

Applied Physics major … Son of Linda and Brian Lynch … Father was the head coach at Evangelical Christian High School … Engaged to Sissy Graham, daughter of Franklin Graham and granddaughter of Billy Graham … Born Corey Austin Lynch on 5/07/85 … Resides in Cape Coral, Florida.