McLee signed as free agent by Rams
The NFL draft can be an emotional experience for the players who are waiting to be chosen. It’s one that Uniontown graduate Kevin “Boo” McLee never wants to go through again.
McLee was hoping to be a late-round selection in the 2007 draft, but when the West Virginia University senior linebacker was passed over, he signed on with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent on Sunday night.
“I’m going in there with a chip on my shoulder,” said the 6-foot-1, 244-pound McLee. “I want to prove that I’m definitely a good enough linebacker to make it in the NFL.”
McLee wasn’t the only Mountaineer who was disappointed with the draft. Center Dan Mozes was thought to be a sure pick, but the Washington graduate wasn’t chosen either. Wide receiver Brandon Myles, another WVU player who was thought to have an outside shot at being picked, also went undrafted.
“I was surprised Dan wasn’t picked either, but that just goes to show you, you can’t tell what’s going to happen,” said the 23-year-old McLee.
There were 32 linebackers chosen in the seven rounds of the draft, 16 inside and 16 outside. McLee sees himself as a versatile linebacker who can do both, and had a hard accepting that there were that many more linebackers considered more worthy of drafting than he was.
“I didn’t stay and watch the draft, I went miniature golfing for a while,” said McLee, who spent Sunday in Uniontown at his aunt’s house. “I was told about all the linebackers that got picked. It’s real tough. You work real hard, but you can’t control the situation.”
McLee had offers soon after the draft concluded from several other teams, including the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars, but settled on the Rams.
“The Rams didn’t pick any linebackers in the draft, and my agent thought that was the best situation to take at this time,” McLee said. “I want to try to make my mark with them. They seemed like they wanted me the most.”
The Jaguars were interested in McLee and had talked with him, but chose Elon linebacker Chad Nkang with their final pick.
“I really didn’t want to go to Jacksonville after that,” McLee said.
“They said they were going to draft me in the seventh round and they didn’t. I wasn’t too happy with that, so I didn’t want to go there.”
McLee had stellar careers with the Red Raiders and the Mountaineers, and hopes to continue on in the NFL
He was second-team all state and one of the WPIAL’s leading rushers as a senior with 1,637 yards. He also led Uniontown in tackles while helping coach John Fortugna’s Red Raiders complete an undefeated regular season.
He led West Virginia in solo tackles with 49 his senior year, and was second in total tackles with 79, including three sacks. He had one interception and four pass breakups. He ended his WVU career with 247 tackles.
A former All-Big East selection who was a starter on a pair of bowl-winning teams, including the 2006 Sugar Bowl, McLee looks back fondly on his WVU career.
“I had a great time there, winning (Big East) championships and bowl games,” said McLee, who is majoring in athletic coaching education.
“It was definitely a great experience to play at West Virginia.”
West Virginia graduate Marc Bulger is the Rams’ starting quarterback, and McLee is excited to talk to him.
“I never met him before, but I heard a lot about him,” McLee said. “Now that I’m gong there, I’ll give a holler at him. Maybe he can show me how the team works and the system they use. He’s been there awhile, so I think I can learn some things from him.”
McLee saw some of the many scouting reports on his play with the Mountaineers, many of which questioned his pass defense skills.
“There were a lot that said different things,” McLee said. “They had positives and negatives for everybody, so it didn’t bother me.”
One common theme on most of McLee’s reports was his intensity.
Fox Sports’ profile said of McLee, “He’s very aggressive and is an extremely good tackler. Will wrap you up and punish you at the same time.”
Scott Wright’s Draft Countdown said McLee is “very intense and has a motor that never stops. Can make the big hit. Hard worker with great intangibles. He plays with a nasty attitude. Outstanding bloodlines.”
McLee is the son of Elaine Murray and former Georgia all-time leading rusher Kevin McLee, who is now fifth on the list.
McLee’s father was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 12th round but never played in the NFL, and his uncle Reggie McLee played for the Mountaineers in the 1970’s.
McLee would like to make the Rams as a linebacker, but wouldn’t mind being a special teams player.
“I’m going in hoping to get my foot in the door,” McLee said.
“I’m hoping to earn a linebacker spot and I think I have a good chance to make it there, but I’ll do whatever it takes. I want to produce and make plays for the team.
“I’ll do whatever I have to do to make it to the next level.”