Turk McBride article...

DaWolf · 04-28-2007, 06:52 PM

Wilson grad McBride waiting to watch his dream come true
http://www.courierpostonline.com/app...10/1002/SPORTS
By CELESTE E. WHITTAKER
Courier-Post Staff

Turk McBride is going through all sorts of emotions as the 2007 NFL Draft approaches.

The former Woodrow Wilson High School star is expected to get drafted sometime this weekend -- several mock drafts have him going in the second round -- after culminating his career at the University of Tennessee with a standout senior season.

The draft is Saturday and Sunday at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, and nfldraftscout.com has McBride rated as the No. 5 overall defensive tackle in the draft. Scout.com rates him as the No. 7 overall defensive tackle.

"Too many words to explain," McBride, 21, said Monday afternoon from Tennessee. "Nervous, excited . . . I'm just ready to get it over with, I guess. I just want to see where my new home is going to be.

"I've been playing football for so long. I used to always watch football on Sundays and always wished that was me. Now, I might be blessed enough to play on Sundays and people can look at me and wish that was them. When I think about it, I get excited."

The 6-foot-3, 277-pound McBride had a solid NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. His 40-yard dash time was 4.82 and he recorded a 31-inch vertical jump. He also recorded a 9-foot long jump, a 4.12 time in the short shuttle and did 27 bench presses of 225 pounds. Also, his arm length was measured at 33 inches.

McBride went into the combine rated as the seventh-best defensive tackle by nfldraftscout.com and came out rated as the fifth-best.

"I believe the combine helped me out a great deal," said McBride, who played wide receiver and defensive end in high school. "A lot of people have question marks about me, my size, my speed. Can I bulk up? Am I a defensive tackle or a defensive end? The way I moved at the combine, I moved very fluidly. Just like an athlete. I can play either end or tackle. It's not hard for me to bulk up and stay with my quickness or speed or stay the same and just be me."

McBride, who played tackle and end for the Vols, finished with 68 total tackles, nine for a loss, one sack, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and five quarterback hurries in 13 games for Tennessee in 2006. He ended his four-year career with 121 tackles, 20 1/2 for a loss and 6 1/2 sacks in 43 contests.

When Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell, a projected first-round pick, was lost early in the 2006 season with a torn biceps tendon, McBride shuffled from end to tackle. Harrell is projected as a first-round pick.

"(McBride's) ability to move back inside and give us a playmaker inside was tremendous," Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis said.

McBride, who is affable, articulate and talkative, has a solid reputation, which should also help his draft status. With the image problems around the NFL lately, it can't hurt to have a good guy around.

Tennessee defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks said on rockytoptalk.com that "Turk McBride is one of the greatest young people that has every played here in my 13 years. He loves this program and this football team. . . . He's just one of the most unselfish people we've ever had play for us."

A mock draft on nfldraftcountdown.com has McBride going in the second round (49th overall) to the Cincinnati Bengals. Another on fftoolbox.com has him going 54th overall to Kansas City, while footballsfuture.com has him going to Tampa Bay, 64th overall. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. predicts McBride will go to the New Orleans Saints with the 58th overall pick. All four have him projected as a second-round pick.

Does he have a preference on his location?

"Not really," he said. "I believe I'm pretty well-rounded. I'm from the East Coast. I went to school down South. I trained in L.A. I've almost been everywhere except the Midwest. I just want to play football, basically."

Soon after Tennessee lost to Penn State 20-10 on Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., McBride headed to the API Training Center in Carson, Calif. to prepare for the combine.

He's 16 credit hours shy of a sociology degree from Tennessee, something he is intent on getting, regardless of what happens this weekend.

"I'm definitely going to get my degree," he said. "Not a lot of people from my city have that."

But, for now, he's focused on this weekend and the realization of a longtime dream.

Thinking about getting drafted has him "very emotional. The last four or five years, I've been watching the draft faithfully. Just coming from the school (Tennessee) I come from, we've always had many people get drafted. Now, it's going to be my turn. I just ended one part of my life, and now I'm about to start another one."

04-28-2007, 06:52 PM	Topic Starter
DaWolf Cry havoc... Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10007725	Turk McBride article... Wilson grad McBride waiting to watch his dream come true http://www.courierpostonline.com/app...10/1002/SPORTS By CELESTE E. WHITTAKER Courier-Post Staff Turk McBride is going through all sorts of emotions as the 2007 NFL Draft approaches. The former Woodrow Wilson High School star is expected to get drafted sometime this weekend -- several mock drafts have him going in the second round -- after culminating his career at the University of Tennessee with a standout senior season. The draft is Saturday and Sunday at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, and nfldraftscout.com has McBride rated as the No. 5 overall defensive tackle in the draft. Scout.com rates him as the No. 7 overall defensive tackle. "Too many words to explain," McBride, 21, said Monday afternoon from Tennessee. "Nervous, excited . . . I'm just ready to get it over with, I guess. I just want to see where my new home is going to be. "I've been playing football for so long. I used to always watch football on Sundays and always wished that was me. Now, I might be blessed enough to play on Sundays and people can look at me and wish that was them. When I think about it, I get excited." The 6-foot-3, 277-pound McBride had a solid NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. His 40-yard dash time was 4.82 and he recorded a 31-inch vertical jump. He also recorded a 9-foot long jump, a 4.12 time in the short shuttle and did 27 bench presses of 225 pounds. Also, his arm length was measured at 33 inches. McBride went into the combine rated as the seventh-best defensive tackle by nfldraftscout.com and came out rated as the fifth-best. "I believe the combine helped me out a great deal," said McBride, who played wide receiver and defensive end in high school. "A lot of people have question marks about me, my size, my speed. Can I bulk up? Am I a defensive tackle or a defensive end? The way I moved at the combine, I moved very fluidly. Just like an athlete. I can play either end or tackle. It's not hard for me to bulk up and stay with my quickness or speed or stay the same and just be me." McBride, who played tackle and end for the Vols, finished with 68 total tackles, nine for a loss, one sack, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and five quarterback hurries in 13 games for Tennessee in 2006. He ended his four-year career with 121 tackles, 20 1/2 for a loss and 6 1/2 sacks in 43 contests. When Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell, a projected first-round pick, was lost early in the 2006 season with a torn biceps tendon, McBride shuffled from end to tackle. Harrell is projected as a first-round pick. "(McBride's) ability to move back inside and give us a playmaker inside was tremendous," Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis said. McBride, who is affable, articulate and talkative, has a solid reputation, which should also help his draft status. With the image problems around the NFL lately, it can't hurt to have a good guy around. Tennessee defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks said on rockytoptalk.com that "Turk McBride is one of the greatest young people that has every played here in my 13 years. He loves this program and this football team. . . . He's just one of the most unselfish people we've ever had play for us." A mock draft on nfldraftcountdown.com has McBride going in the second round (49th overall) to the Cincinnati Bengals. Another on fftoolbox.com has him going 54th overall to Kansas City, while footballsfuture.com has him going to Tampa Bay, 64th overall. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. predicts McBride will go to the New Orleans Saints with the 58th overall pick. All four have him projected as a second-round pick. Does he have a preference on his location? "Not really," he said. "I believe I'm pretty well-rounded. I'm from the East Coast. I went to school down South. I trained in L.A. I've almost been everywhere except the Midwest. I just want to play football, basically." Soon after Tennessee lost to Penn State 20-10 on Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., McBride headed to the API Training Center in Carson, Calif. to prepare for the combine. He's 16 credit hours shy of a sociology degree from Tennessee, something he is intent on getting, regardless of what happens this weekend. "I'm definitely going to get my degree," he said. "Not a lot of people from my city have that." But, for now, he's focused on this weekend and the realization of a longtime dream. Thinking about getting drafted has him "very emotional. The last four or five years, I've been watching the draft faithfully. Just coming from the school (Tennessee) I come from, we've always had many people get drafted. Now, it's going to be my turn. I just ended one part of my life, and now I'm about to start another one."
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