http://national-football-league-nfl.suite1...-2010-nfl-draft
Mississippi RB Dexter McCluster and the 2010 NFL Draft
Nobody seems too sure what position Dexter McCluster should be playing. What is certain is that former Mississippi star is one gifted football player.
McCluster made that clear during the 2009 season at the Ole Miss, gaining 1,689 yards from scrimmage and scoring 11 touchdowns. Next, he'll try to prove that he's talented enough to play in the NFL.The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder was electrifying last year — especially over his last six games. But he's not being rated as a first-round selecttion. In fact, he might not even go in the second.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper recently suggested that McCluster could be picked in round two by the Detroit Lions. Kiper ranks McCluster as the No. 3 back in the draft, behind C.J. Spiller of Clemson and Jahvid Best of Cal.
Sideline Scouting.net is projecting McCluster as a third-round selection, ranking him sixth among running backs and 64th among all prospects. NFL Draft Scout.com has McCluster listed as the No. 4 running back and the No. 56 overall player.
The biggest criticism of McCluster has nothing to do with his ability or attitude. It's his size. Analysts aren't sure whether 190-pound players can take a pounding in the NFL, and McCluster's nowhere near 190. Many wonder if he's a better fit as a wide receiver, and if so, will he be a good one?
The Weaknesses of Dexter McCluster
McCluster's not just light by NFL standards, he's short. So teams will be a bit antsy about sending him downfield on pass patterns. In addition, McCluster's not blindingly fast — at least not when measurerd against other small running backs.
Spiller and Best — both 25 pounds heavier than McCluster — ran the 40-yard dash faster than the Ole Miss product did at the NFL scouting combines.
McCluster stumbled at the start of his 40 drill and turned in a sub-par 4.58. He later ran a 4.44 at his pro day, but even that didn't match Spiller and Best.
McCluster has also struggled with fumbles — a problem that could increase in the bigger, faster, harder-hitting NFL. And he's not terribly experienced as a running back. He was primarily a receiver during the first tww years of his career, and most of his 1,955 career rushing yards came in the second half of 2009.
The Strengths of Dexter McCluster
McCluster's limited time at running back could actually be a positive. He's taken less of a pounding, and he could get much better at the position with additional time there. Also, his experience as a wide receiver is invaluable — no matter where he plays in the NFL.
Sure, McCluster's not big, but he's stronger and more durable than many give him credit for. At the combines, he turned 20 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press — more than Spiller, Best, and 220-pound Ryan Mathews of Fresno State, not to mention 240-pound LeGarrette Blount of Oregon.
Over the last six games of his NCAA career, McCluster averaged 23.8 carries per game — and also managed 28 receptions. He ran 34 times for 184 yards and caught five passes for 63 yards in his team's 21-7 Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State.
McCluster is a graceful runner with tremendous lateral quickness and slick moves. He also has good hands, runs solid routes, and is a tenacious blocker despite his lack of size. McCluster is also experienced as a punt and kickoff returner — duties he performed regularly during his fresmhan and sophomore years.
Who Will Draft Dexter McCluster
The running back class of the 2010 draft features quantity but not spectacular quality, and there's a chance that only one could be picked in the first round. Spiller is widely rated as the top back, followed in interchangeable order by Mathews and Best. After that, it's rather cloudy.
McCluster is evaluated rather evenly with the likes of Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer, Tennessee's Montario Hardesty, Stanford's Toby Gerhart and Auburn's Ben Tate — all bigger, more bruising backs. Much will depend on what type of back is being sought.
A number of teams have shown interest in McCluster, via workouts or meetings. The clubs include Cleveland, Denver, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington.
http://www.nfl.com/combine/top-performers#...ty-yard-shuttle
He had the fastest 20 yard shuttle time at 4.06
) make up for the catches he won't get.
) make up for the catches he won't get.
arenas had an insane PR body of work at Bama. McCluster might do KR, but thats it.
) make up for the catches he won't get.
