Transactions:
Le'Ron McClain was picked with the 137th-overall selection in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft..."We talked about getting the No. 1 player at the position, at guard, with [Ben] Grubbs," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. "We did the same thing with [Le'Ron] McClain. As has been talked about on the [draft] telecast, you can get a good player on the second day at certain positions because people just don't draft them. Everybody here realized that we lost a real good player in Ovie Mughelli and that we were able to come back and get Le'Ron McClain. It was amazing the number of text [messages] and calls that we got from other teams around the league that had the similar feelings that we did about Le'Ron. We knew that there was one team that was trying to trade up to get him - thank God for compensatory picks that you can't trade - so we knew we were going to be able to get him, and they knew that also"...McClain is the 4th player the Ravens have selected from Alabama and the 1st FB drafted by the Ravens since 2005 when they took Justin Green (5th round, 158th overall).
Highlights:
Named team captain as a senior, McClain is a punishing lead blocker, who led the way for the Crimson Tide to pick up 3,310 rushing yards over his final 2 years as a starter...He also possesses soft hands out of the backfield...Saw action in 48 career games at Alabama, starting 29, including 19 in a row to close out his college career...Was tackled for a loss just once in his career (37 attempts) and was also a standout special teams player for the Tide...Posted 575 all-purpose yards at Alabama carrying the ball 37 times for 170 yards (4.6 ypc) and 2 TDs, and totaling in 48 receptions for 405 yards and 8 TDs.
College Career:
2006: Started all 13 games at FB and helped the rushing attack average 123.1 yards per game, racking up 1,600 yards in 2006...He also carried 11 times for 64 yards (5.8 avg) as a senior...Finished 4th on the team with a career-high 20 receptions for 175 yards (8.8 avg.) and 3 TDs...Amassed 239 all-purpose yards and added 4 tackles (3 solo) on the punt coverage team...He played a total of 616 snaps with a season-high 67 at Arkansas as a senior.
2005: Played in all 12 games, starting 10 and totaled 179 all-purpose yards finishing the season with 39 yards on 8 carries (4.9 avg.) and hauled in 18 receptions for 140 yards and 2 TDs...Totaled 179 all-purpose yards...Also recorded 3 solo special teams tackles...Helped pave the way for the Tide to rush for 1,170 yards, averaging 142.5 yards per game.
2004: Saw action in 12 games, starting 5 (including the final 4) after starting FB Tim Castille was lost with a knee injury...Finished with 121 all-purpose yards, carrying the ball 17 times for a career-high 66 yards and 2 TDs...Caught 8 passes for 55 yards and 3 TDs as a sophomore.
2003: Saw action in 11 games, starting 1, while missing 2 with turf toe...Carried the ball just once, and caught 2 passes for 35 yards as a freshman.
Personal:
Attended Tuscaloosa County (Northport, AL) HS...Super All-State selection and rated the 4th-best prospect in Alabama by BorderWars, a college recruiting service...Averaged 6.5 yards per carry, posting 1,071 yards rushing and 15 TDs on 165 carries...Also hauled in 5 receptions for 110 yards...As a junior, McClain rushed 135 times for 1,007 yards (7.5 avg.) and 21 scores...As a starter on defense, he recorded 86 tackles, 3 sacks and 1 INT...Was a human environmental sciences major at Alabama. |