Character at a young age
March 7, 2017
Revenge: Accomplished – Patriots crush Bossier; move to Class 4A Top 28 in Lake Charles
March 7, 2017
A Houma native and Vandebilt Catholic graduate worked out for all 32 NFL teams this past week.
While there, he showed scouts and coaches that he can compare with some of the top players in the country – both in height, speed and quickness.
UL-Lafayette halfback Elijah McGuire was one of 33 halfback prospects who worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine last week in Indianapolis – the place where several professional-bound players showcase themselves to teams before the NFL Draft.
McGuire measured well. He was recorded as 5-foot, 10-inches and he weighed 214 pounds. The Houma native ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, which was in the middle of the pack among halfbacks.
The local said last winter at the Senior Bowl that he’s ready to showcase himself to professional teams, adding he thinks he can fill several roles for NFL teams.
“Whoever gives me the opportunity will be getting someone who is just so hungry and who just wants to play,” McGuire said. “I will do any role the team wants of me – big or small. I am willing to work hard and do the little things and find ways to work myself up to as high of a position as I can get.”
At the combine, McGuire didn’t keep any secrets.
Unlike other halfbacks, he participated in every, single drill showcasing everything he could do to those in attendance.
He ran a solid 40-yard dash time and also performed favorably in the broad jump and vertical jump.
The way the NFL determines the order of each event is ABC-order, so McGuire went after Stanford star and former Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey in every event.
McCaffrey is expected to be an early-round pick, so a lot of the national TV focused on rehashing how the Stanford star performed while McGuire quietly worked for scouts.
But some of the results for the two players were awfully similar.
McGuire proved stronger than McCaffrey, recording 15 bench press reps, trumping the 10 from McCaffrey.
The Houma native also had similar arm length, hands and broad jumping skills as the highly touted prospect.
But regardless of how he worked out, McGuire said he believes he’s someone worth drafting because of his proven ability to perform when the ball is actually in play.
McGuire was a four-year standout with the Ragin’ Cajuns – one of the best players in the history of the university’s football program.
The Vandebilt graduate won the Sun Belt Conference’s Freshman of the Year award in 2013 after rushing 103 times for 863 yards and eight touchdowns.
A year later, McGuire won the conference’s Player of the Year Award after he accumulated 1,264 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 45 passes for 468 yards and two touchdowns.
After that season, McGuire shifted to a between the tackles runner for the Ragin’ Cajuns, and he’s posted two-more 1,000-yard seasons as a junior and senior.
Scouts project McGuire will be a mid-round pick.
Some think he may go even higher than that because of his ability to catch passes out of the backfield and also make plays in special teams – either as a return man or a defender.
McGuire said he’s willing to do a little bit of everything to try and make his mark at the next level.
“I will play anywhere,” he said at the Senior Bowl. “I just will be grateful for whoever believes in me enough to give me the chance. I’m going to be ready and focused. •
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