From prospects to pros: 2022 NFL Draft résumé for Kentucky nose tackle Marquan McCall
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This year’s NFL Draft is April 28-30. A number of former University of Kentucky stars are eligible, and many are expected to be selected this year. We’re taking a look at every UK player who hopes to have their name called.
Marquan McCall
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 344 pounds
Hometown: Detroit, Mich. (Oak Park)
Projected NFL position: Nose guard
What you’ll remember about him at UK: His nickname, “Bully,” was a fitting description. McCall was a mauler whenever engaged with a blocker. McCall’s presence made an impact, but his absences might have been even more noticeable: He didn’t play in any of UK’s three losses (at Georgia, at Mississippi State, vs. Tennessee) in 2021.
Key stats: Nine tackles (3.5 for a loss) and two quarterback hurries in 2021. Overall grade of 65.2 from Pro Football Focus.
Career development: A four-star offensive lineman in high school — 247Sports and Rivals tabbed him as the No. 4 guard in the country — McCall tore his ACL during his junior year and Kentucky didn’t back away as others did. He immediately moved to the defensive line at UK in part due to its relative strength on offense compared to the d-line. He never redshirted for the Wildcats, playing in eight games as a true freshman before getting into all 13 the next season. He played in 10 games as a junior, starting three times in place of current Dallas Cowboy Quinton Bohanna, before starting eight of his nine games played as a senior.
Latest draft projections: McCall’s ceiling seems to be in the sixth round. That’s where Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News has him going, 215th overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Dane Brugler of The Athletic likes him as one of the final picks in the draft, at 253rd overall to the Los Angeles Rams. PFF has him No. 163 overall on its “big board,” but teams will be more focused on positional needs rather than raw potential by the time McCall is likely to be selected.
His future: McCall will probably be drafted and make an NFL roster, though his extended pro outlook probably depends on his ability to improve as a pass-rusher; without that, his long-term viability as a rotational piece is slim. Athletically, there’s a lot to like about a player who boasts the size and brings the energy that McCall does. An ankle injury caused McCall to miss four games and most of one he started (vs. Florida) in his final season; given how heavy he played at for so long, that’s something to watch as his career develops (he dropped from 381 pounds to 344 ahead of his final college season). Right now he’s about where he needs to be.
Quote: “Marquan McCall looks the part of a starting nose guard, but he has a ways to go before he starts playing like one. ... Allowing him to just eat space and two-gap, letting his upper body strength and scrappiness shine, is the best bet. That said, McCall is purely a run defender who will need time to figure out how to make his game work with subpar NFL athleticism.” — Derrik Klassen for Bleacher Report
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 8:05 AM.
