Mike Strachan
Wide Receiver / University of Charleston

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Mike Strachan:  My height is 6’5, weight is 225 and my best forty time is a 4.38.  I consistently run in the low 4.4’s.      

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Mike Strachan:  I ran track.  It is my other main sport besides football.  I participated in the 200 and 400 meters.  During my senior year of high school, I played basketball.  Growing up, I was pretty good at it.  

Alex Khvatov:  How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Mike Strachan:  I have my brother here with me.  We know some QB’s in the area.  We work out together at a local field.  We are working on the fundamentals.  I am focusing on my hands and route running.  I am doing conditioning on my own.    

Alex Khvatov:  Where did you grow up? 

Mike Strachan:  I was born and raised in the Bahamas.  I went to Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, VA during the last three years of high school.  When I lived in the Bahamas, I had aspirations to run track professionally.  I had a goal to compete in outdoor track this spring before everything shut down.  I placed first in indoor track this past year.  I wanted to participate in the 2020 Olympics.  That was the goal.  I wanted to run for my country.  I feel like I would have done it, but we didn’t have an outdoor track season.  I have been running track all four years in college.  I placed first in the 400 meters this past year.      

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Mike Strachan:  Different schools were looking at me for football and track.  I played for Frank Rocco at Liberty Christian Academy in Virginia.  He was a very good coach.  I went to a few camps for football.  Eastern Kentucky and East Carolina were looking at me.  I went to a Miami camp, and they were impressed by me.  JMU stopped by at my high school.  Delaware was interested. 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose the University of Charleston?

Mike Strachan:  My coach called me into his office, and one of the coaches from Charleston there.  Coming from the Bahamas, the school system is different.  I didn’t have the SAT or ACT.  I took them pretty late in the process.  I didn’t know much about it.  There is a certain time period when you have to take those test scores between D-I and D-II.  Charleston was patient with me.  I took a visit and I liked it.      

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Mike Strachan:  I bring energy.  I am confident and I am a positive example for everybody.  I am a team player.  I am willing to do whatever for the team and the coaches.  I am a playmaker.  They can come to me in any situation.  I have the ability to make plays. 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Mike Strachan:  At the next level, you have to have two things.  Route running and creating separation.  If you can run routes very smoothly, you can be successful at the next level.  I have been working on it this offseason.      

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about your career.

Mike Strachan:  I have accomplished a lot at Charleston.  As a receiver, I broke many records.  I hold records at the school for receiving yards in season and in a game.  It was a process for me from my freshman year to now.  I redshirted my first year.  I sat on the bench behind Joey Augustin.  He was a star receiver.  He got a shot in the NFL and now he is playing in the CFL.  During my third year, I had a 1,000-yard season.  I was the first WR to have that at the school.  It was a big achievement for me.  I trusted the process.  I like to better myself each year.  We missed the playoffs by one game this past year, but we beat a D-I team.  It was Valparaiso.  We went up there.  It was a 10-hour drive.  We had to flip the switch right away.  We had big-time adrenaline.  It was a big win for the program.  It was the first time that we beat a D-I program.  It was great being a part of that win.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Mike Strachan:  The first game of the season against Fairmont.  It was fourth down, and we went for it.  We needed a play.  It was a dig route.  I pushed it vertically and then I broke it inside.  We were up by three points in our own territory.  I caught it and ran for the first down.  It was an exciting time.  It was one of those times when the team needed me the most.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest thing that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Mike Strachan:  Time management is the key.  They hold us accountable. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Mike Strachan:  I like the Dallas Cowboys.  I grew up in a Dallas Cowboys household.       

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Mike Strachan:  Megatron.  I like receivers that have the size structure as me. Julio Jones and Michael Irvin.  I actually met Michael Irvin in Texas.  He is good friends with my dad. 

Alex Khvatov:  Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the defense? 

Mike Strachan:  Based on film study during the week, I look at what the corner is doing.  If he is playing off or playing bail technique.  Then I look at the coverage.  Based off that, I know what route to run and what play we can call.        

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest thing that your father taught you about football?

Mike Strachan:  My dad is Jerome Strachan.  He played football at Bethune-Cookman under head coach Larry Little.  He was part of the Dolphins team that went undefeated in the 70’s.  My dad learned a lot from him.  He also played WR in college.  He taught me how to be tough.  The major thing is having the mental toughness. 

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Mike Strachan:  #4 WR Tyreik McAllister and #30 CB Josh Saunders who transferred from UVA-Wise.  He is my cousin and he is best CB that I have ever played against.  #9 DL Kenny Randall.  These are the key players for the team.  We lost a few guys that graduated.  On defense, LB Keon Freeman is a player coming up.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Mike Strachan:  CB Josh Saunders from UVA-Wise. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Mike Strachan:  There is definitely a lot of pressure playing the game.  I embrace the pressure.  Football is the greatest sport.  It is ultimate team sport.      

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from the University of Charleston this season? 

Mike Strachan:  A Conference Championship. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Mike Strachan:  I like to hang out with friends and play the drums.  I grew up playing the drums at a church in the Bahamas.    

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Mike Strachan:  I am a business administration major and minor in communications.  I want to get into the marketing side of things.  I want to become an entrepreneur, but I need to know the fundamentals of business. 

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Mike Strachan:  Easy-going, hard-working, fun, positive and leader.