Loren Strickland Bio
Loren Strickland, born on May 31, 2000, in Carpentersville, Illinois, is an American professional football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indianapolis Greyhounds and Ball State Cardinals before signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 203 pounds, Strickland earned a place on an NFL roster after a non-traditional college path that spanned NCAA Division II and FBS competition.
Strickland is recognized as the first UIndy alumnus to make an NFL roster in the modern era, a milestone he achieved when he cracked Detroit’s initial 53-man roster in 2024. His career arc from a multi-sport high school athlete in suburban Chicago to an NFL safety reflects steady progression through smaller college programs and a successful transfer to a higher level of competition.
Early Life and Background
Loren Strickland was born on May 31, 2000, in Carpentersville, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. He grew up in the nearby Algonquin area and attended Jacobs High School, where he developed into a versatile three-sport athlete. At Jacobs, Strickland competed in football, wrestling, and track and field, earning 10 varsity letters across those programs.
In football, Strickland lined up at running back, linebacker, and safety, demonstrating early positional flexibility that would later define his professional profile. His high school play earned him first-team all-conference and all-area recognition. He graduated from Jacobs in 2018 and chose to continue his football career at the University of Indianapolis, an NCAA Division II program, rather than at a higher-visibility school.
Path to American Football
Strickland’s route to the NFL began in the NCAA Division II ranks, where he joined the Indianapolis Greyhounds in 2018. He redshirted his first year, preserving a season of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. The following season, he stepped into a starting role and quickly established himself as a defensive contributor.
His development at Indianapolis was steady and notable enough to attract attention from Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs. After earning his finance degree from UIndy in December 2021, Strickland used his remaining eligibility to transfer to Ball State, an FBS program in Indiana. The move gave him the chance to test himself against stronger competition and to be evaluated by NFL scouts on a larger stage.
Loren Strickland Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Strickland’s college career began at the University of Indianapolis, where he redshirted during the 2018 season. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he won a starting job and started the final 10 games of the year. He totaled 46 tackles and four pass breakups and was named first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), a significant individual honor at the Division II level.
The 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting Strickland to one game. In 2021, he served as a team captain and recorded 33 tackles along with a team-leading 10 pass breakups. He completed his academic requirements at UIndy in December 2021, graduating with a finance degree.
Ball State Cardinals (2022–2023)
Strickland transferred to the Ball State Cardinals of the Mid-American Conference for the 2022 season. Playing as a backup, he appeared in 12 games and finished the year with 19 tackles. The experience allowed him to acclimate to the speed and complexity of FBS football after moving up from Division II.
As a senior in 2023, Strickland appeared in all 12 games and made five starts. He recorded 31 tackles and two tackles-for-loss, serving as a reliable depth piece in the Cardinals’ secondary. His two seasons at Ball State helped position him for an NFL opportunity despite not being selected in the 2024 draft.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–Present)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Strickland signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent. He earned a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster, becoming the first UIndy alumnus to make an NFL roster in the modern era. The achievement underscored how far he had developed since his Division II days at Indianapolis.
On December 4, 2024, Strickland was waived and re-signed to Detroit’s practice squad. He later signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions on January 20, 2025. Heading into the 2025 season, he was waived again on August 26 as part of final roster cuts before being re-signed to the practice squad, signed to the active roster on October 1, waived on October 11, and then re-signed to the practice squad five days later.
Driving Style and Strengths
Strickland’s primary strengths are coverage awareness and pass defense. At UIndy, he was a team leader in pass breakups, and his multi-positional high school experience gave him a strong understanding of both the run and pass game. At 5 feet 10 inches and around 203 pounds, he fits the profile of a sub-package safety who can contribute on special teams while developing into a rotational defensive back.
Notable Events and Milestones
Strickland’s most notable milestone came in 2024 when he made Detroit’s initial 53-man roster, becoming the first UIndy alumnus to reach an NFL roster in the modern era. He also earned first-team All-GLVC honors in 2019 and served as a team captain at Indianapolis in 2021, reflecting the leadership role he carried throughout his college career.
Loren Strickland Career Wins
Loren Strickland’s career achievements are anchored in individual recognition rather than team championships. His All-GLVC selection in 2019 highlighted his impact at the Division II level, while his transition to FBS football with Ball State showed his ability to compete at a higher level.
College Highlights
In his college career, Strickland’s signature moment was his 2019 first-team All-GLVC selection after totaling 46 tackles and four pass breakups for the Indianapolis Greyhounds. He followed that with a team-captain season in 2021, recording 33 tackles and a team-leading 10 pass breakups. At Ball State, he appeared in 24 games across two seasons, finishing with 50 tackles and two tackles-for-loss.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his conference honors, Strickland’s professional milestone of making an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent stands as a defining performance. His repeated movement between Detroit’s active roster and practice squad during the 2024 and 2025 seasons reflects the constant evaluation process that defines the career of a young defensive back.
Loren Strickland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Loren Strickland’s family background is limited. He was raised in Carpentersville, Illinois, and attended Jacobs High School in nearby Algonquin, where he built the athletic foundation that carried him to college football.
Personal Life
Loren Strickland earned a finance degree from the University of Indianapolis in December 2021, reflecting his commitment to academics alongside athletics. Information about his spouse, children, or other close family members is not publicly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Loren Strickland entered the 2025 season after signing a reserve/future contract with the Detroit Lions in January 2025. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to Detroit’s practice squad, signaling the organization’s continued interest in retaining him as a developmental safety and special teams contributor.
On October 1, 2025, Strickland was signed to Detroit’s active roster, giving him another opportunity to contribute at the NFL level. Five days later, on October 11, he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad on October 16. The pattern reflects the typical rhythm of a young player’s career, in which active-roster promotions and practice-squad returns alternate as the season unfolds.
Looking ahead, Strickland’s path with Detroit will depend on his continued development in coverage and on special teams. His experience across Division II, FBS, and now the NFL gives him a broad football foundation, and any future promotion to the active roster would extend a career arc that has already produced a notable UIndy-to-NFL milestone.