NFL: Alabama’s Rolando McClain Going Pro
Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain announced he will skip his senior season of eligibility to enter the 2010 NFL draft Monday. McClain is widely considered a top ten prospect and is the consensus top linebacker prospect eligible for this year’s draft.
McClain makes all of the defensive calls for the Crimson Tide defense, is as good a tackler as there is in the nation, and shows good coverage skills for an inside linebacker. He has no real glaring weaknesses as a football player. Rolando displays sloppy technique at times and does not have sideline-to-sideline range but he makes up for it by taking disciplined routes and angles to get to the ball carrier.
Tide coach Nick Saban has said that McClain is one of the smartest players he has ever coached.
He could go as high as fifth to the Chiefs who are in desperate need of a run-stuffer in the middle of the defense. Improving on sagging run defenses is high on the priority list this spring for the Browns, Raiders and Bills as well. It is hard to imagine McClain lasting further than 11 where the Broncos currently reside.
