A freakish athlete, Alex McCalister enters the draft surrounded by questions regarding his character stemming from an abysmal 2015 season.
Not many scouts will bother questioning Alex McCalister the athlete.
When it comes to his off-the-field antics, that’s when many eyebrows will start to raise. McCalister’s promising redshirt junior campaign went as terribly as one can imagine. He saw himself get suspended for the season opener and was eventually dismissed from the program entirely.
While the former Gator was productive between each unfortunate instance (6.5 sacks in nine games), was it enough to convince NFL teams to keep him on their big boards?
Let’s take a look at where McCalister’s draft stock currently stands.
Vitals
Ht: 6-6
Wt: 239 pounds
Class: Junior
Hometown: Winston Salem, NC
Prospect Video
Strengths
McCalister’s raw athletic ability alone is going to turn more than a few heads. A 6-foot-6, 239 pound behemoth, the standout Gator possesses great range and speed, and puts it to use as a disruptive edge-rusher. He really explodes off the line, comfortably contorting his body to turn the corner with relative ease.
McCalister’s most valuable asset may be his natural ability to quickly locate the ball, whether it be a run or a pass play. An impressive pass rusher, sideline-to-sideline tackler and playmaker, McCalister should see his stock rise as we get closer to the draft.
Weaknesses
Much of where McCalister gets selected hinges on what scouts think of him in pre-draft interviews and such. Make no mistake, his horrid redshirt junior season will have a lasting impact. On the field, McCalister needs to bulk up and put on some more weight if he wants to become something more than a role player in the league.
Basic technical issues and a lack of moves in his pass rush repertoire still plague the Florida product.
Verdict
There is plenty to like about McCalister’s game.
He’s a stellar athlete with plenty of potential to grow into a real threat off the edge.
While there are valid character concerns in play, McCalister remains a raw prospect, which will likely keep him at the low end of many draft boards more than anything else.