The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

What They Are Syaing:

"He is very smart, he has got great knowledge and understanding of football. He's got great knowledge and understanding of what we do. He does a great job of implementing it in a game, in terms of his performance as well as the leadership that he provides for others.Usually plays his best in the biggest games. That is always something you like to see in great players." - Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban

"Rolando McClain: 6-foot-4-and-a-quarter, 260 pounds," Nutt said. "And as fast as he wants to be. He gets to the ball carrier and he arrives in a bad mood every time I see him. ... You feel like he's the heartbeat of their team. Brings a lot of energy. But you don't see anybody blocking him. He stays unblocked, refuses to get blocked and he goes and makes the play." - Ole Miss Head Coach Houston Nutt

"Week in, week out, the best linebacker we go against is No. 25 on our team," McElroy said. "He does such a great job of getting players in position. He does a great job of encouraging guys. He's a fantastic leader. He does so many things that go unseen." - Alabama Quarterback Greg McElroy

NEWS

02.28.10 - Inside linebackers aren't as valued in the NFL as they used to be. The last time one was selected in the first round of the NFL draft was 2007. Ole Miss' Patrick Willis was taken by the San Francisco 49ers, who had the 11th pick. "Most inside linebackers can't play on third down," said Charley Casserly, the former Washington Redskins and Houston Texans general manager who now is a draft analyst for the NFL Network. "That's why they're playing inside. Teams don't want to be paying a lot of money for a guy who's only playing first or second down." So what does that mean for Alabama junior All-American Rolando McClain? "One of the things for McClain is, can he play on third down?" Casserly said. "A lot of times now with the linebacker position, it's about the outside guy. Sacks," Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "But you have to have a great Mike (middle) linebacker, since he's the quarterback of the team. – Birmingham News

01.11.10 - Alabama All-America linebacker Rolando McClain has declared for the NFL draft, according to the Associated Press. This year's Butkus Award winner made the announcement Monday at a news conference in Tuscaloosa. He is projected as a first-round pick after leading the team with 105 tackles and 14.5 stops for loss. He also intercepted two passes and had four sacks.

12.08.09 - University of Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain said Tuesday he has yet to file a request with the National Football League Draft Advisory Board, which provides feedback to college underclassmen to help them make an informed decision on early NFL Draft entry. "I haven't sent it. Coach (Nick) Saban advised me to do it, just in case, but I haven’t done it (yet)," McClain said. McClain, the Butkus Award winner and considered one of the nation's top underclassmen, said he is not entertaining the possibility yet. "Naturally, you’ll think about the NFL. But it’s not even my focus right now. I really couldn’t care less about the NFL at this point," McClain said. "I still have another game to play, and that’s my focus." – Tide Sports