Strickland attended Lakeland Regional High School, where he was a two-way player. He earned honorable-mention high school All-American honors as a senior. He also practiced basketball. He accepted a football scholarship from Purdue University. He became a starter as a sophomore, finishing fourth in the conference with 132 tackles. As a junior, he was second in the conference with 140 tackles. As a senior, he led the conference in tackles with 130, earning All-Big Ten honors. He appeared in the Blue-Gray Game. He was a three-year starter and would lead the team in tackles for three straight years. He finished his college career in second place in school history in total tackles and first place in solo tackles ; he also led the Boilermakers in tackles in 3 straight seasons.
Professional career
Los Angeles Rams
Strickland was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he was a backup linebacker, tallying 43 tackles and 4 sacks. He had 2 sacks in the season finale against the San Francisco 49ers and in the playoff loss against the Minnesota Vikings. In 1989, he suffered a right knee injury early in training camp, missing all of the preseason and the season opener. He still was able to become a starter at inside linebacker, registering 63 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 6 passes defensed. He missed 3 games with an ankle injury he suffered in the sixth game against the Buffalo Bills. He had 10 tackles and 2 interceptions in the season finale against the New England Patriots. In 1990, the Rams took advantage of his versatility as a player, creating a position called "nose linebacker", that rushed the quarterback, dropped back in coverage and took on offensive lineman in the running game. On October 15, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a fractured left fibula. He was fourth on the team with 25 tackles at the time. In 1991, he made 29 tackles, one sack, 2 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He missed 2 games after suffering a sprained knee in the second game against the New York Giants. In 1992, he was passed on the depth chart at middle linebacker by Larry Kelm, playing mainly on special teams and short yardage situations. He collected 7 tackles and 8 special teams tackles.
Minnesota Vikings
On May 7, 1993, he was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Vikings. He finished with 15 starts at weakside linebacker, 137 tackles and 4 fumble recoveries, on a defense that was ranked number 1 in the league.
In 1996, after losing linebackers Robert Jones and Dixon Edwards to free agency, the Dallas Cowboys signed him as a free agent on March 11. He was named the starter at middle linebacker and recorded 153 tackles on a defense that was ranked number 3 in the league. On November 24, he had a career-high 20 tackles against the New York Giants. In 1997, he was limited with injuries, but still tallied 132 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. In 1998, he registered 117 tackles. On February 11, 1999, he was released after the team decided to start third year player Randall Godfrey.
Washington Redskins
On March 27, 1999, he signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent. He was the backup at middle linebacker to Derek Smith, before being placed on the injured reserve list on October 26. The next year, he was tried at outside linebacker, until being released before the start of the season. Strickland played 12 seasons in the NFL; appearing in 161 games and finishing with 580 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 4 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries.
