Robert McClain
 McClain in 2013 | |||||||||||
No. 27 Atlanta Falcons | |||||||||||
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| Cornerback | |||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
| Date of birth: July 22, 1988 | |||||||||||
| Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||
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Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: Lusby (MD) Patuxent | |||||||||||
| College: Connecticut | |||||||||||
| NFL Draft: 2010 / Round: 7 / Pick: 249 | |||||||||||
| Debuted in 2010 for the Carolina Panthers | |||||||||||
Career history
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| Roster status: Active | |||||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2013 | |||||||||||
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Robert "Reggie" McClain (born July 22, 1988) is an American football cornerback who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. McClain was a seventh round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers. He was a cornerback, punt returner, and kick returner with the University of Connecticut Huskies.
McClain was a co-captain in 2009 and was selected as All-Big East Second Team cornerback by the coaches and first team Big East as a punt returner by various media organizations. He received the Brian Kozlowski Award "designated for a courageous, hard working and productive person", named for the former Husky tight end and 13-year NFL veteran. McClain was "stellar in all aspects of the game this year contributing on both defense and special teams," and finished his senior season with 60 tackles, four interceptions, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery on defense. McClain stepped in as the punt returner halfway through the season running back 15 punts for a Big East leading 222 yards and a touchdown.[1]
McClain is 5'9" tall and approximately 200 pounds. He attended Patuxent High School in Lusby, Maryland.[2]
High school career
McClain was an All-State selection in Maryland, named first-team All-Metro by the Washington Post as a defensive back, named All-League as both a running back and a defensive back as a senior and all league defensive back as a junior. He rushed for 1,105 yards and 12 touchdowns, caught 25 passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns, and returned five kickoffs for touchdowns in 2005, one short of the national single-season record. McClain also returned a punt 98 yards for a touchdown, intercepted six passes in 2005, broke up 19 others, and made 53 tackles. He attended high school with former UConn tailback Terry Caulley. He attended Eaglecrest High School in Aurora, Colorado in 2002-2003, where he played as a starting running back. He then later attended Patuxent High School for the remainder of his high school career.
College career
2009 season
McClain was tied for second best with 4 interceptions in the Big East, was third on his team with 60 tackles in regular season play, and was considered a prospect for the NFL draft.[3][4] In 10 games he returned 15 punts for 222 yards, an average return of 14.8 yards, including one returned for a touchdown.[5] He also returned two kickoffs for 24 yards.[5] He intercepted 10 passes during his career at UConn.[5]
After a performance in the PapaJohns.com Bowl at Legion Field where McClain was "seemingly was everywhere on defense and special teams Saturday in the Huskies’ 20-7 win over South Carolina", with four tackles, two tackles for losses, three pass breakups breaks up on defense" and impressive punt returns, McClain said he will be trining for a pro football career. "I’m praying to God it happens so I can continue playing football and work hard. Hopefully I get invited somewhere. If it works out, it works out, great. If it doesn’t, it’s the military. I’m going to the Marines. I’ve got to have a plan in case football doesn’t work out." McClain also said he would remember the season, his coaches and his teammate and friend "Jazz" (Jasper Howard) who died in a stabbing during the season for the rest of his life.[6]
2008 season
In the 2008 season McClain intercepted two Cincinnati passes, returning one for a touchdown to help secure a victory.[7] He started against Syracuse November 15 after an injury to Darius Butler and returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown. He played in all 13 games with four starts, recorded 30 tackles on the season and led the team in tackles in an International Bowl victory over Buffalo University January 3 with eight (including 3.5 tackles for a loss). He accumulated a total of three interceptions on the season, 5.5 tackles for a loss, five pass breakups, a quarterback hurry.[3][5]
2007 season
McClain played corner back and on special teams in 13 games. He recovered a fumble at Pittsburgh and recorded his first career interception against Maine. He made five tackles at West Virginia, four tackles and an interception in a win over Rutgers, and intercepted an end zone pass in the against University of South Florida. He became a starter in the final regular season game at West Virginia University and was a nickel back for much of the season finishing with 30 tackles (19 solo), three interceptions and three other pass breakups.[3][5]
2006 season
McClain played in the final seven games on special teams returning 13 kickoffs for an average of 19.0 yards and two punts. He made five tackles in coverage, four of them solo tackles, and was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week on three occasions.[3]
Professional career
Carolina Panthers
He was drafted in the 7th round, 249 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2010 NFL Draft. On September 3, 2011, He was released on the day of final roster cuts.
Jacksonville Jaguars
On December 12, 2011, He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[8] On December 30, 2011, He was released after the team claimed Offensive tackle William Robinson off waivers.[9]
Atlanta Falcons
Robert McClain now plays CB for the Atlanta Falcons. Coming off a standout year in 2012, McClain should expect to play a significant role in the Atlanta Falcons defense in 2013. After dropping Dunta Robinson, and letting Chris Owens and Brent Grimes walk to the Browns and the Dolphins, respectively, in free agency, McClain will likely reprise his role in this nickel spot behind Asante Samuel and Desmond Trufant in 2013.
References
- ↑ Chip Malafronte UConn presents team awards December 14, 2009 (Ramblings from The Runway blog) New Haven Register
- ↑ http://connecticut.scout.com/a.z?s=342&p=8&c=1&nid=3814237
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Robert McClain NFL Draft Scout CBS Sports
- ↑
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Robert McClain stats college career CBS 5
- ↑ Desmond Conner McClain savors senior sendoff] January 3, 2010 The Hartford Courant
- ↑ Chris Mogollon [http://www.nfldraftbible.com/cfi/connecticut_40_cincinnati_16.htmlCFI: Connecticut 40, Cincinnati 16] 26 October 2008 NFL Draft Bible
- ↑ "Jaguars Practice squad moves". kffl.com. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Jaguars claimed William Robinson". kffl.com. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
External links
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