The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McKenrick hoping to catch eyes of the NFL
JCU, Mentor product has impressive numbers in combine-style drills
As a Division III college football player, Mason McKenrick knows the odds of gaining entry into the NFL are stacked against him.
So the former John Carroll linebacker is doing his best to make sure he stands out.
His plan seems to be working so far.
The Mentor graduate recently participated in The Dream Bowl, a college football all-star game in Salem, Va., for small-school prospects.
Thirty of the 32 NFL teams were represented at the event, which included days of practice leading up to the Jan. 15 game. Canadian Football League teams were also in attendance.
It also included a day of combine drills, and McKenrick hit the jackpot with eye-popping results Jan. 11 in front of NFL and CFL scouts.
First, he checked in at a hair over 6-foot-2, and 208 pounds.
That’s small for NFL linebacker standards, but McKenrick took care of that concern at The Dream Bowl.
“A coach there asked me if I would be interested in playing safety, and I jumped at the chance,” said McKenrick, who had a sack, a fumble recovery and was in on a number of tackles in The Dream Bowl.
In an instant, McKenrick went from an undersized linebacker to a safety prospect with ideal NFL size, and measurables. It could make him an intriguing player to watch during the draft season.
Here are the results McKenrick posted during the Jan. 11 combine: 40-YARD DASH » 4.5 seconds SHORT SHUTTLE » 4.12 seconds 3-CONE DRILL » 6.68 seconds VERTICAL JUMP » 37.5 inches BROAD JUMP » 9 feet, 9 inches
By comparison, New York Jets safety Jamal Adams, who went No. 6 overall in the 2017 NFL draft, posted
these numbers at the NFL combine: 40-YARD DASH » 4.56 seconds SHORT SHUTTLE » 4.13 seconds 3-CONE DRILL » 6.96 seconds BROAD JUMP » 10 feet
McKenrick credits those numbers to the work he’s done with JCU strength coach Tim Robertson, who also trains athletes at his Speed Strength facility in Chester Township. He weight trains with Robertson at JCU three days a week, and works on his speed and agility at Speed Strength twice a week.
“Working with Tim has had an unbelievable effect,” said McKenrick. “He’s invested a lot time in me, and he’s seen the potential in me.”
McKenrick and Robertson have been working together since mid-November, a week after the Blue Streaks’ regular season was over.
“There’s definitely been an improvement since working with Tim,” said McKenrick. “I can tell with my explosiveness.”
The safety position isn’t new for McKenrick. While at Mentor, he played the position his sophomore and junior seasons until he was a linebacker as a senior. In college, he was a three-year starter at linebacker for the Blue Streaks, and was a twotime All-America pick as a junior and senior.
He loves playing the linebacker position, but had no problem about the position switch: “I’m most comfortable being on the field. Doesn’t matter where. Playing safety means lining up about 10 yards deeper. I felt at home playing there,” said McKenrick.
After the position switch made the rounds among NFL teams and his combine results were posted, McKenrick said the Colts and Ravens immediately
set up one-on-one meetings. The Chiefs, Falcons and Patriots also expressed interest, he said. In December, the Broncos came to JCU to watch film of McKenrick.
If football weren’t enough, McKenrick also has a possible side gig brewing. He recently signed with two agencies — Scouts Honour and Next-New York — as a potential model. The agencies saw an Instagram photo of McKenrick and contacted him. He isn’t sure where his modeling career might take him but the focus is on football at the next level.
McKenrick, who’s represented by Buffalo-based Priority Athletes, will continue working with Robertson. The next goal is getting an invite to a pro day. Kent State and Division II Slippery Rock are possibilities.
“All of this is just unbelievable,” said McKenrick. “My mindset is failure is not an option. I have faith in myself, and I have people surrounding me who have faith in me. I just have to keep working hard. This is something I’ve wanted for a long time.”
“Working with Tim has had an unbelievable effect. He’s invested a lot time in me, and he’s seen the potential in me.” — NFL hopeful Mason McKenrick, on Tim Robertson