On day three of the 2010 NFL Draft, three lucky former Vols had their name called.
1. Jacques McClendon. 4th round, 129th pick, Indianapolis Colts.
On thing is for sure about McClendon: he has good size and strength. The 6-5, 325-pound lineman set the Tennessee bench press record, lifting a hefty 625 pounds.
McClendon should have the opportunity to compete for playing time right away. The Colts appear to be wide open at one guard spot and Kyle DeVan is the likely starter at right guard.
“I couldn’t be doing better,”
McClendon said. “I’m sitting on cloud nine right now.
“To be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, such a prestigious organization, in the fourth round is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever received in my life. I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now.”
What they are saying:
- A relative unknown, McClendon seems to be the type of run blocker that the Colts have been lacking for several seasons. His ability to knock people off the ball should be of great interest because Bill Polian is known for drafting gems at the offensive guard position in the late rounds. [EMQB].
- Chris Scott has played left tackle at Tennessee, but he lacks the lateral range and foot agility to play on the left side in the NFL, so RT is probably where he will end up. He is a powerful blocker who can engulf and smother ends in the running game. He will eventually become a starter at RT for the Steelers. [playerpress]
- "I've got a Peyton Manning jersey, I've got his autographed helmet in my mother's house, so you know I'm a huge Peyton Manning fan," McClendon said during a conference call. "I can't wait to get to work and start learning from him. I know I have to be on top of everything." [AP]
2. Chris Scott. 5th round, 151st pick, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Like McClendon, at 6-5, 346 pounds, Chris Scott has excellent size. He was an anchor on Tennessee's offensive line for three seasons, early at guard and later at tackle. He is projected to play guard in the NFL.
What they are saying:
- A right guard prospect who could also fill in at right tackle, Scott is an excellent run blocker, and the Steelers, struggled at times, in that area. The middle of the offensive line has been an issue for the Steelers for several seasons, and they have done a fine job of bringing in competitive players to upgrade those positions. [EMQB]
- My thoughts: Contrary to what you think, I don't sit around breaking down a lot of film on Tennessee linemen. But Scott played on every position on the line for the Vols, and the Steelers can always use versatility like that. Like Gibson, this is not a pick that will provide immediate help, but Scott could potentially be useful down the road given some polishing, especially on his average footwork and quickness. [mondesishouse]
- Scott has played a lot of football at Tennessee as a starting left tackle, but he lacks the lateral range and foot agility to play on the left side at the next level. He is a powerful blocker who generally wins the battle once he gets his hands on opponents and can simply engulf or smother ends when blocking down for the run. He is quick to read blocking schemes and takes good angles to get to where he needs to be, but he will struggle when he needs to recover and right himself against good movement by defensive ends. He has enough going for him to eventually become a starter on the right side but will need some work on his footwork. [NFL.com]
3. Jonathan Crompton. 5th round, 168th pick, San Diego Chargers.
Say it with me: Jonathan Crompton was drafted. Jonathan Crompton was drafted.
It may be one of the biggest turnarounds I've ever witnessed at Tennessee. Just about everyone had given up on him, not to mention the
death threats he reportedly received.
He was left for dead on more than one occasion and yet today, he was selected by the Chargers. It's an incredible turnaround and I have to tip my hat to Jon for never giving up.
There's no question that Crompton has the size and the arm strength to compete in the NFL. And he's a tough kid. But can he grasp an NFL offense and make decisions quickly enough to be effective at the game's highest level? That remains to be seen.
In all fairness, Crompton did have four different offensive systems while at Tennessee -- Sanders, Cutcliffe, Clawson, and Kiffin. So, maybe with the stability of a single system he can excel.
He certainly has a long way to go, but after what I saw him overcome at Tennessee, I wouldn't bet against the kid.
- "Crompton is a talented player who will become a nice developmental QB for the Chargers." [bolthype]
- "His massive improvement in the second half of the season when combined with his ideal measureables make him a legitimate draftable commodity." [chargerlighteningbolts]
- Crompton will spend his rookie season learning the ropes, then could potentially move up to No. 2 next season, as Billy Volek enters the final season of his contract. [Scout]
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