I admit it. I know only a few things about Boise State outside of their turf color and Shea McClellin ain't one of them. I know Doug Martin and Kellen Moore; but Shea McClellin... not so much. Apparently, he is a dynamic force of a pass rusher that will excel as a 3-4 outside linebacker (he lined up there multiple times with Boise St.) His highlight films show a nice burst off the line and sure tackling; a nose for the ball and good instincts. The question is, why in the world am I only just hearing about him three weeks before the draft; and how in the world is he now the second best edge rusher?
Why is he, all of a sudden, a full month after the NFL Scouting Combine, become the hottest thing since Wonder Bread pulled that tray out the super oven?
ESPN's Mel Kiper has him going to New England at #27 in his most recent mock... after not even listing him as a Winner from the Scouting Combine. Sorry, both behind a pay wall.
NFL Network's Mike Mayock has moved him up all the way to the second best edge rusher behind South Carolina's Melvin Ingram. Ingram's expected to go Top 10, meaning he would have no problem with McClellin going in the first either. What?
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has moved him up to fifth on the the list of outside linebackers. NFL.com (whose evaluation statements make little sense) had him as a fifth-round value after the combine.
Drafttek.com hasn't caught on completely yet, still listing him as a end of second-round prospect, 59th overall.
Apparently, McClellin wowed the coaching staffs at the Senior Bowl. My good friend Jimmy K from BloggingTheBeast.com hipped me to the fact that he earned rave reviews there for his versatility. While he did stand up on occastion at Boise, he reportedly ran the linebacker drills (under the Vikings staff) better than all of the linebackers present and caught the eye of one Mike Singletary. He's a strong possiblity for both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes.
But still, where did this guy come from as a first rounder? And the bigger and more important question might have to be, if he is really this good; then why the heck are we listening to anybody that didn't elevate him after the combine as authorities? Boise State runs a Top 10 program. What changed about McClellin?