Gerald McCoy

McCoy's style of play is very similar to Oakland's Richard Seymour and Minnesota's Kevin Williams. He is an athlete who works well within the system, whether asked to bull rush the inside gaps or executing quick, efficient spin moves to come off the edge and impact the pocket by generating explosive pursuit angles. His lateral agility allowed the Sooners' coaching staff to line him up in a variety of positions on the front wall, and much like Seymour and Williams, he knows his goal -- seek and close on the quarterback in an instant. With his long arms, body control and balance, McCoy is very effective at avoiding the cut block, as few defensive linemen keep their feet working through trash like this junior. With a strong hand punch, he can easily split double-team blocking or push an isolated blocker back into the pocket. While McCoy might not have the statistical "lights-out numbers" of fellow Big Twelve Conference defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska, he is much more patient and rarely gets out of control or loses position. His ability to plug the rush lanes and string plays out contributed to McCoy putting up impressive "hidden" statistics in 2009. Suh was a one-man gang penetrating the backfield, but McCoy is the type that knows he has to be able to make plays on the move. He is not the type to get into "rock 'em, sock 'em" battles with blockers, but he is more than able to neutralize the ground game. McCoy's success in shutting down the opposing ground game was never more evident than in 2009. The previous year, Oklahoma allowed 367.71 yards per game, ranking 68th in the nation in total defense. With McCoy taking on a very important leadership role on a team missing several offensive stars, the defense needed to step up. Following the lead of their right defensive tackle, Oklahoma ranked eighth nationally in total defense (272.62 yards per game) and seventh in scoring defense (14.54 points per game) during the 2009 season. McCoy was dominant as a run stuffer, as the Sooners limited their opponents to an average of 92.92 yards per game on the ground, ranking seconds in the Big Twelve Conference and eighth in the Division I ranks. The junior defensive tackle recorded just 34 tackles in 2009, but on 20 of those plays, the runner was either tackled for a loss or brought down at the line of scrimmage for no gain. All told, the opposition was held to minus-17 yards on running plays directed at McCoy's area. While those are qualities teams look for in an interior lineman, McCoy is no slouch in wreaking havoc in the backfield. Six of his 12 quarterback pressures either killed scoring drives or resulted in turnovers. He also captured a few frightened passers while shooting the gaps, recording six sacks for losses of 47 yards. At Southeast High School, McCoy was named National Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today. The 2005 Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team and chosen All-City Athletic Conference Player of the Year. The Super Prep All-American was rated the best player in the Midlands region by that recruiting service and ranked second on their Elite 50 squad, along with being the top-rated defensive lineman in the nation. Super Prep also selected him the Midlands Defensive Player of the Year during his final season. College Football News regarded McCoy as the nation's best defensive tackle and ranked him 10th overall, nationally. Prep Star rated McCoy the second-best defensive lineman in the nation, as he was also a member of their Dream Team Top 100 squad. Scout.com and ESPN rated him the second-best prep defensive tackle in the country. He was ranked 21st overall on the 2005 ESPN150 team. Rivals.com rated McCoy the best defensive tackle in the nation and the top prospect in the state of Oklahoma. McCoy logged 82 tackles, 20 sacks and recovered nine fumbles as a senior. He added All-Area, All-State and All-Metro honors as a junior. He finished that season with 83 tackles, including 23 stops for loss, and 20 sacks, adding one interception (returned 48 yards for a touchdown) and two fumble recoveries. At the conclusion of his prep career, he competed in the U.S. Army High School All-American game. Despite almost every major college pursuing him, McCoy decided to stay close to home and enrolled at Oklahoma in 2005. He spent that season redshirting on the scout team, but his talent was obvious. He dominated in 2006 spring drills and forced the staff to scrap their plans to bring him along slowly, handing him the right defensive tackle job. He would not relinquish that assignment throughout his 40-game career. McCoy was a consensus Freshman All-American and named the Big Twelve Conference Freshman of the Year in 2006. He collected only 19 tackles that season, but posted 6.5 stops for loss with two sacks. Four of his six pressures caused interceptions and ten of his hits came on third-down plays. As a sophomore, The Sporting News recognized McCoy as a first-team All-American and the Dallas Morning News named him the Big Twelve Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He delivered 30 tackles in fourteen games, that included 6.5 sacks, 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage and three caused interceptions on QB pressures, picking off one ball himself while knocking down to third-down pass attempts. The 2009 consensus All-American first-team choice was a Lombardi Award finalist as a junior. He collected a career-best 34 tackles, finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks among his 15.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, adding 12 pressures from his right defensive tackle position. After first contemplating leaving school for the National Football League after the 2008 season, this time McCoy was not hesitant with his decision. In mid-December, he announced that he would not be returning to Oklahoma in 2010.

strength

Keeps his hands active pushing into his man's chest or shoulders to pressure the pocket. Not as strong anchoring against double-teams as you'd like for an elite defensive tackle prospect. Able to control the tackle when at defensive end and use those strong hands to disengage to make the play. Will lose leverage as his pads can get too high after the snap.

explosion

Quick and powerful off the snap, especially when he stays low to maintain leverage. Can pop his man's jersey and punch to keep a tackle off-balance. When lined up on the edge, tight ends can't handle his power one-on-one.

tackling

Strong upper-body build and long arms make him a secure tackler inside, even when not coming straight-on toward his target. Able to change direction to drag down running backs or quarterbacks after breaking through the line. Accelerates into a ballcarrier and close quickly on quarterbacks. Hustles to be the second or third man in the pile.

intangibles

Team captain starting as a sophomore. Rarely takes a play off and hustles through the whistle. High character player who gives speeches to schools and other organizations throughout the Norman area community. Scheduled to graduate in the spring with a Human Relations degree.

run defense

Explosive tackler with the agility to bring down backs before they get started. Stacks and sheds, especially when playing outside. Able to beat the cut block and quickly recover to get back into the play. Good hustle, usually getting down the line or 10-15 yards downfield to chase the ball. Keeps his shoulders square when engaged down the line. Agile to run through or jump over trash. When slanting against the run, gets skinny to exploit a gap. Plays a bit high, and can get blown off the line when inside against a good power drive blocker.

pass rush

Constantly moving toward the quarterback no matter where he lines up. When playing inside, uses a quick first step, violent hands and a surprisingly quick spin move to defeat man-up blocking. Could be more consistent changing up his pass rush moves. Keeps his eyes on the quarterback, and will put his hand up to affect the passing lane or knock down throws. Fluid turning the corner at 3-4 end, but not quite quick enough to beat NFL tackles off the line. Makes the quarterback step up into the pocket with a strong punch and spin move. Stands up his man if unable to win the initial battle, and disengages to crash down if the quarterback hangs on too long.

nfl comparison

Kevin Williams, Vikings

2008: Left the Baylor game (10/04) after he sprained the big toe on his left foot.

Campus: 5.04 in the 40-yard dash

1.74 10-yard dash

2.76 20-yard dash

4.48 20-yard shuttle

7.32 three-cone drill

30.5-inch vertical jump

9'6" broad jump

Bench-pressed 225 pounds 23 times

33 3/4-inch arm length

10 1/4-inch hands.

Attended Southeast (Oklahoma City, Okla.) High School, playing football for head coach Michael Branch

Named National Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today

2005 Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year

Selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team and chosen All-City Athletic Conference Player of the Year

The Super Prep All-American was rated the best player in the Midlands region by that recruiting service and ranked second on their Elite 50 squad, along with being the top-rated defensive lineman in the nation

Super Prep also selected him the Midlands Defensive Player of the Year during his final season

College Football News regarded McCoy as the nation's best defensive tackle and ranked him 10th overall, nationally

Prep Star rated him the second-best defensive lineman in the nation, as he was also a member of their Dream Team Top 100 squad

Scout.com and ESPN rated him the second-best prep defensive tackle in the country

Ranked 21st overall on the 2005 ESPN150 team

Rivals.com rated McCoy the best defensive tackle in the nation and the top prospect in the state of Oklahoma

Logged 82 tackles, 20 sacks and recovered nine fumbles as a senior

Added All-Area, All-State and All-Metro honors as a junior

Finished that season with 83 tackles, including 23 stops for loss, and 20 sacks, adding one interception (returned 48 yards for a touchdown) and two fumble recoveries

At the conclusion of his prep career, he competed in the U.S. Army High School All-American game.

Human Relations major

Son of Gerald and the late Patricia McCoy

Born 2/25/88

Resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.