Alex McCalister DE/OLB/pass rush specialist, Florida

[junglesouljah]

 

6'6" 240 lbs

 

At this point he is a pass rush specialist, he needs to bulk up in order to be a full time player and be able to stack and shed and make plays in the running game. He has the athleticism to bend the corner when running the arc and can beat OT's with his speed rush. He also has a spin move which he uses on occasion. He lines up in a 3 point stance and standing so that fits into the ways Ryan will want to use him as a 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. He got kicked of the team for rules violations so he will have to answer questions and pass back ground checks and his interviews at the combine will be important. Has a lot of upside, and will need to be developed before he is ready to be a 3 down player. Right now looking like a mid to late round pick, but has a high ceiling.

 

 

STRENGTHS: Super long and rangy defensive end who has outstanding height and length. At his best as a pure edge rusher. Gets off the ball well and has outstanding speed around the corner and to the quarterback. For a taller player, he loves to get upfield and kind of duck under the offensive tackle as he turns the corner and makes his way to the passer. This shows his athleticism, quickness and pure speed.

Whether against the run or pass, if McCalister locates the ball he gets there quickly. Has also shown good ability to play in space, displaying excellent short-area quickness and good tackling skills against smaller players on the perimeter.

 

WEAKNESSES: Has to bulk up and put on weight. He's so long and looks like a "skinny" 239 pounds. There is not much power to his game, though he does play with pretty good leverage for a taller player.

 

Needs to play with more technique and learn some additional moves from the defensive end position. He does a nice job of utilizing his speed off the edge and to the outside but doesn't show much the other way on the inside move. Will also have to strengthen his play against the run and at the point of attack.

 

He was expected to leave early for the NFL Draft, but pre-draft interviews will be key after McAlister was dismissed from the program in December for the wide-ranging "violation of team rules."

 

IN OUR VIEW: McCalister has come a long way and still has a ways to go. He showed up in Gainesville as a tall and skinny athlete who was more of a basketball than football player. A pure football project all the way. He leaves Gainesville as a pure pass rusher at this point in the NFL level. McCalister has explosive speed off the edge and could make a good living as a situational, role player on Sundays. He really needs to continue to develop his pass rush skills and really concentrate off the field on getting bigger and stronger if he wants to be an every down player in the pros.

 

--Jamie Newberg (1/12/16)

 

PLAYER OVERVIEW

 

McCalister declared for the draft following a tumultuous redshirt junior season. It began with a suspension for the season opener due to a "violation of University Athletic Association policy," and ended with a dismissal from the program due to the ubiquitous "violation of team rules."

In between, McCalister managed 6.5 sacks before suffering what proved to be a season-ending foot injury on Nov. 14. When he was dismissed, McCalister had already submitted paperwork to receive feedback from the NFL Draft advisory board, according to the Gainesville Sun.

 

McCalister was a three-star recruit from Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth high school who signed with Florida over programs including North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and others in the Class of 2012.

 

McCalister redshirted that first season in Gainesville and spent the next two years as the backup to Dante Fowler, Jr. He only played in six games in a reserve role in 2013 and missed time due to injury.

 

The following season McCalister played in all 12 games, recording 23 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss and 6.0 sacks. That was in a backup role to Fowler. In nine games played in 2015, McCalister totaled 26 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks in his first season as a starter.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2000859/alex-mccalister

 

Measureables:

 

Height- 6’5

 

Weight- 240 lbs

 

Projected 40 Time- 4.76

 

Positives:

 

Has good speed

 

Gets around the tackle with ease

 

Has a nice spin move which allows him to get around the tackle

 

He is a solid tackler

 

A dynamic pass rusher

 

Creates havoc for offensive lineman

 

Negatives:

 

He has had off the field issues which led to him being suspended by the Florida Gators football team

 

He is undersized to play DE, likely a OLB in the NFL

 

Overall:

 

McCalister has good speed, he gets around the tackle easily, he has a nice spin move which allows him to get around the Tackle, he is a solid tackler, he is a dynamic pass rusher, and he creates havoc for offensive lineman. However he has had off the field issues as he has been suspended by the Florida Gators football team which led to him declaring early, and he is a bit undersized to play DE as he is likely a OLB

 

Twitt

http://pigskinprospects.com/jasons-early-2016-alex-mccalister-scouting-report/

 

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[junglesouljah]

 

 

He turns his speed to power on the above pass rushes.

 

[gunnar_zero]

Aaron maybin

[bcw]

Aaron maybin

 

He might be built like Maybin but he isn't going to be a 1st round pick.

 

Rex likes pass rush specialists and he would definitely be good value in the middle rounds.