Dexter McCluster Scouting Report

McCluster is a do-it-all kind of player who did it all for Mississippi, especially over the past two seasons. He registers at a mere 5-8 and 165 pounds, but it would be an understatement to say that his size never held him back in college. After being used primarily as a backup wide receiver in his first two years in Oxford, McCluster became a huge factor at both running back and receiver in his junior season. He racked up 655 rushing yards and 625 receiving yards in 2008 before exploding in 2009. McCluster went for 1169 yards on 181 carries and he added 520 yards on 44 receptions, scoring 11 total touchdowns. He simply took over in a 30-17 win over Arkansas, rushing 22 times for 123 yards and catching seven passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. McCluster never really wreaked such havoc on a consistent basis and he probably never will at the next level given his diminutive frame. It's simply impossible for him to impose his will physically on defenders. That said, he can certainly be a real weapon in the NFL just like he is in college. Teams could use him as a Darren Sproles-type running back, and he can also be a lethal pass-catching option lining up in the slot. McCluster has all the makings of a special teams standout as well. Injuries (not surprisingly) have been a bit of a concern, but NFL teams can live with that because he is not going to be an every-down player. He will simply provide a home-run threat on occasional plays, and perhaps frequently in Wildcat formations. His athleticism, and speed should earn McCluster nothing worse than a 3rd-round selection in the 2010 draft. He did not run well at the combine, but his draft stock recovered when he ran in the low 4.4s at Mississippi's pro day. As such, a second-round selection would not be a huge shock.