Anthony McCloud: Star in the Making?
by FSUSOM on Jul 23, 2009 1:45 PM EDT
in FSU Football
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PrintAnthony (Amp) McCloud is a defensive tackle prospect currently at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi. I am writing this piece because I believe that McCloud gets underrated and forgotten by our fans somewhat. I think he has the potential to be a superstar.
via media.scout.com
To refresh your memory, Amp attended Thomas County Central high school in Thomasville, Georgia. He graduated with the class of 2008. He and teammate Debrale Smiley received offers from FSU the day of signing day. They both signed. Neither qualified, which was expected when we gave the offer. Both were unknowns, partly because of where they went to school (South Georgia is notoriously underrated by networks), and also because neither had a chance of making it into school (South Georgia schools often produce kids who struggle to qualify, probably due to lack of resources in their public school system, similar to parts of Miami).
Inside is a scouting report, VIDEO, and some concerns. Follow the jump!
However, McCloud was not underrated because he had no talent. To the contrary, I've heard some say that he is on the level of 2009 signees Jaccobi McDaniel and Demonte McAllister. Those familiar with Georgia high school football say that he was the best DL prospect in Georgia his senior year, ahead of five stars De'Angelo Tyson (UGA) and Omar Hunter (UF), as well as four star Brandon Thompson (Clemson). ChantRant interviewed his head coach back in May.
VITALS:
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 285
Some video evidence:
Amp McCloud High lite video (via ytsejam180)
Very good burst off the ball. Quickness and more quickness. Has impressive raw strength. Can use his hands better. Runs very well for his size. Amp can run down QBs that are scrambling or chase down running backs heading the other direction (pursuit). He can probably play either the 3 tech or 1 tech (NG) defensive line positions in college. With that being said, I (and others) think he should play the 1tech, or noseguard, position. He's just so explosive for his size. He can probably get up to 290 in our strength program.
Comparison: Glenn Dorsey. Both are generally the same size, and the burst off the ball is excellent. Dorsey was a stud at LSU and was a first round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008.
The Ultimate Glenn Dorsey Video (via Motorhead938)
Concerns:
- High blood pressure - His coach says that he is working on it, taking medication. This is a problem but at a major college, it really shouldn't be. We willl get him on a plan.
- Weight - Will he get down to 265 like rumored? It's not happening for McCloud at FSU if that happens. However, I haven't seen or heard anything to make me believe that he will be at that weight.
I have heard the rumor that McCloud is going to sit out this season at JuCo so he would have more eligibility when he came to FSU. That is yet to be confirmed. If his grades are good, it seems FSU will take him and Smiley back in January. Per his coach, he is doing well in school and is developing good study habits. This is what I want to hear.
Hopefully we see Amp back at FSU in January along with his teammate.
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I think that part of the reason they were unknown is that our staff kept them that way.
I doubt they were sitting around on signing day and thought to themselves, “eh, let’s throw some scholarships at a few kids.” I have no evidence to support this, but I really think we held back on offering them so that nobody really found out about them.
I hope we get both
Amp would bring immediate help on the interior line. I really like his video, he’s not just big he’s extremely active.
Let's not forget about Debrale Smiley
That kid has muscles on top of muscles. If he can keep his head on straight in the classroom, he can contribute at the very least on Special Teams, and could become quite an H-back.
Also, given McCloud’s blood pressure issues, reducing his BMI would be great for his health and allow him to get off BP medicine ( a must, in my opinion). If he could play with strength at 265, he could be an excellent SDE (or DT in our current scheme).
Smiley is a RB
Jimbo wants him to get serious carries. Although people constantly confuse me with his weight (i’ve heard as high as 240ish and as low as 225) he runs a 4.4 in the 40. Moves extremely well for his size.
I'd love to have him in our offense
He could be extremely dangerous. Like a Greg Jones with more speed. I’ve never seen him play but everything i’ve heard sounds like Paul Bunyan fairy tales.
Probably a 4.6 if we're being honest.
Just like Watson didn’t run a 4.38, he’s a 4.55 type.
It’s hilarious how everyone drops once they hit the combine.
Great because I want to know more
I’ve never seen any video on him. And yeah FSUn I know what you mean about the 40 times, I think some of these guys are faster in game situations anyway. I’m more impressed with the fact that Smiley would even be rumored to be that fast because of his size.
We want him at 290-300
we just want him to carry it better, lose the bad weight, gain the good.
He is not an SDE, he is a 1 tech or maybe a 3 tech. Love him at the 1 tech if he is in shape.
I was wondering about Amp
There hadn’t been much talk on him for a while. He can provide immediate, quality depth at 1 tech or 3 tech, which we are in need of. I like both him and Smiley and their ability for a quick impact.
I had heard
that Amp was in the 300 range already. I’m surprised at the talk of 265. what’s up with that?
I wouldn't want him to be that small
We have enough small interior lineman, its really starting to hurt us. I’m hoping he’s closer to that 300 than 265 for sure. There are ways to get around high BP, he can be healthy at a 285 or 290.
Is that why we aren't after Jericho Lee- DT ?
I’ve read good stuff about him being a Jacobbi type DT and I know he won an award at the nike camp earlier this year as the most outstanding d-lineman. But he is listed as 5’10, 265lbs. Not sure if the Godby factor plays into it as well ( see footman/downs)
by noles 4 life u dig? on Jul 23, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't know if he was or not
just that Godby is garbage. Just a backwards way of saying he is 2010.
So best case scenario come spring would be to get
Amp, Smiley, Mizell, and Miller in, which would back date them to this years class leaving a full 25 to still pull in for next year.
Wrap it up, I’ll take it.
How many did we actually sign and enroll...?
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I only lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.
Elayne Boosler
D-line 2010
Scary thinking abt our dline.
Jacobi, demonte, mccray, jenkins, miller, Willis, mccloud, white, dawkins, cummings
by DesiNole on Jul 23, 2009 3:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
+1
I’m excited about our defense altogether in 2010-2011
South Georgia Schools are bad?
I’m not real sure what that means — care to explain?
by Southgeorgiafootball on Jul 23, 2009 6:49 PM EDT reply actions
Guidance Counselors
may not necessarily understand or explain to their athletes what it takes to pass NCAA clearinghouse requirements perhaps? Its obviously possible that this is just a misconception, but a lot of people feel that way about South Georgia High Schools.
They really lack funds, are understaffed, and their kids often seem to struggle to qualify.
It’s similar to some parts of Miami.
not offended
but that seems like an awfully broad brush you are using to paint with
by Southgeorgiafootball on Jul 23, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Well if he has droped the weight maybe we could use him as a DE
If he keeps the Weight then a DT. From what I see we could have our DT and DE switch and no one would know. They are all good size but all fast as sin. I dont understand why they dont do that to Budd.
Why is the sky blue? Because, God Loves the Infantry
Budd probably wouldn't be quick enough to play DE
We need the big body so we can move Dawkins back to DE where he actually belongs lol
FSUn
Did you say that Itawamba CC was a long road trip for you?
I hope McCloud and Smiley make it to FSU in January, we could definitely use guys their size. I’d like to see a bruiser in the backfield, ala Greg Jones and a DT that wreaks havoc!
I usually roll my eyes at people who say
“I’ve been saying all along that ___________” Bleck. HOWEVA, I can honestly say that I’ve said for a while that if Amp could learn schemes and sets quickly enough and come in at playing shape, he’d start immediately. He is better than any DT currently on FSU’s roster. Debrale would also be an outstanding weapon in the offense, it would be the closest thing FSU has had to Greg Jones since Greg Jones.
Though I was skeptical when FSU signed them, after watching film and talking to a guy who graduated from ICC this year I changed my tune quickly. These two are something else. I maintain that these two guys are extremely important in this class. That is assuming of course that they take care of business in the classroom and don’t have any behavioral problems. Both of them have star potential and could easily play a lot of snaps right away.
Great article, looking forward to Smiley’s.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 23, 2009 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
When is he gonna commit?
And how sure are we that Smiley heads to FSU?
Also, any updates on their grades?
http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingnewstoday/20081229/?pg=2
Its my understanding
That the coaches have still been in touch with both McCloud and Smiley and that they both still want to be here. I don’t know about Smiley’s grades but at the end of this write up his coach said that McCloud is doing well in school so I hope that is true.
I don't think it's a matter of "committing"
I think they are both still committed, it’s just a matter of the two of them following through on what FSU asked of them in the classroom and weightroom. My understanding is if they enter December 2009 in good standing, they both enroll in January 2010.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 24, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
also, nothing is being listed publicly yet because I would imagine the coaches are taking the wait-and-see approach rather than get burned publicly if those two don’t handle business. May also have something to do with not scaring away 2010 HS kids who are looking at class numbers.
by NoleThruandThru on Jul 24, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it just me?
or does that boy look a bit “soft” for DL? Maybe it’s the photo, or maybe this is the “before” picture.
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