Cam McGrone is a sleeper no more

Cameron McGrone, LB
School: Michigan | Conference: Big 10
College Experience: Junior | Age: 20
Height / Weight: 6’1” / 236 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Rounds 3-6

College Statistics

Player Overview

Out of high school, McGrone was listed as the number one recruit in Indiana, and the number one outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports. In 2018, as a freshman, he only appeared in one game, on special teams.

His break-out season was in 2019, as a sophomore, still only 19 years old at the time, where he appeared in 13 games, playing both on defense and special teams, collecting 66 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble, and garnering All Big 10 honorable mention recognition. McGrone played in 5 games in 2020, playing well, but ending his season early, in late November, with an upper body injury. It appears that the injury wasn’t particularly serious, but that McGrone opted out of the balance of the season in order to preserve his draft status.

In the last day or so, McGrone popped up on Brett Kollmann’s screen, so his secret is now out:

Strengths

• Still very young, will be 20 at the draft.
• Great football IQ.
• Played MIKE in Michigan’s defense, but has positional versatility (could play WILL as well).
• Impressive short area quickness.
• Has the speed and agility to cover running backs and TEs.

Weaknesses

• Likely to need additional time to develop.
• Can be overly aggressive at times.
• Important to check on injury concerns.
• Needs to improve his ability to read offenses.

Let’s See His Work

How He Would Fit

Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio have kept their powder dry in pursuit of linebacking talent so far this offseason, leading many, including myself, to speculate that they have grand plans for grabbing one (or more) in the draft this year. At this point, McGrone is largely potential, though he did have an impressive 2019 season. If the linebackers in charge of the team (or scouts on other teams) see something special in McGrone, I could easily see him going as a Day 2 pick.

McGrone’s positional versatility, his relentless motor, and the prospect that he’s likely only begun to scratch the surface of his upside make him an intriguing prospect. Selecting him side by side with a Jabril Cox or Zaven Collins immediately transforms the area of greatest weakness on the defensive side of the ball to very interesting unit dominated by youth and speed. If that happens, look out!