EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants have signed linebacker James Morris off their practice squad and waived cornerback Brandon McGee.

The Giants announced the moves Saturday, less than 24 hours before their game in New Orleans against the Saints.

New York made the moves because starting linebacker J.T. Thomas is going to miss the game with an ankle injury and middle linebacker Jon Beason is questionable with an ankle injury.

Morris has been on the practice squad since Sept. 16.

McGee was signed to the practice squad Oct. 14, and to the active roster four days later. He played against Philadelphia on Oct. 19, and was inactive vs. Dallas last week.


(bostonherald.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Faced with a shortage of cornerbacks for their game tomorrow night in Philadelphia, the Giants today signed corner Brandon McGee off their practice squad to the active roster.

McGee takes the roster spot of tight end Jerome Cunningham, who was waived.

The Giants will play without right cornerback Prince Amukamara, who is expected to miss two-to-four  games with a partially torn pectoral muscle. Also, nickel corner Trumaine McBride is listed as questionable because of a groin injury and an illness that forced him to miss one day of practice and left him limited in two others.

Without McGee, the Giants might have had only three corners to face the Eagles: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jayron Hosley and Trevin Wade.

McGee, 5-11 and 203 pounds, joined the practice squad last Wednesday. He has played in 17 regular-season games, all with the St. Louis Rams. McGee was credited with 10 tackles (eight solo).

McGee was a 2013 fifth round draft choice of the Rams (149th overall selection), from Miami. He played in 15 games that season, and had eight tackles. Last year, he played in two games before going on injured reserve with a foot injury.

McGee was waived on Sept. 5, signed to the Rams’ practice squad 10 days later, was signed to the active roster on Sept. 29, and was waived again on Oct. 2.


(giants.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Giants continued to tweak their practice squad on Thursday, adding a defensive back to shore up their sudden depth concerns at cornerback with Prince Amukamara injured.

The Giants added cornerback Brandon McGee, who was drafted by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and offensive lineman Xavier Proctor. To make room for McGee and Proctor, the Giants released offensive lineman Adam Gettis and tight end Dominique Jones.

McGee, a Miami product, has played in 17 regular season games in his career, all for St. Louis. He played in 15 games in 2013, then missed most of last season with a foot injury. He was briefly on the Rams' active roster this season, as well as their practice squad.


(nj.com)

Apparently feeling a need for extra safety depth on Friday after Maurice Alexander was ruled out for this weekend’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a groin injury, the St. Louis Rams promoted safety Christian Bryant from the practice squad to the active roster and released cornerback Brandon McGee.

Bryant, an undersized safety at 5-foot-9 and 198 pounds, was a seventh-rounder of the Rams last season and will be making his first appearance on the active roster after a year-plus on the practice squad. Bryant, who was a noted special-teamer coming out of Ohio State, has flashed skills that indicated he could hang with NFLers during both of his preseasons to date, but with the exceptional depth that the Rams already possess at the safety position, there hadn’t really been space on the roster for him until now. His addition to the 53-man roster makes the Rams’ 2014 draft look just a bit better, as two of their last five picks (none of whom were on the 53-man at any point last season) have made it to the active roster this year, with backup lineman Demetrius Rhaney and now Bryant earning spots. Bryant will almost certainly be up and active for the game on Sunday, otherwise it’s difficult to understand why he would have been moved up so late in the week.

Though the Rams will be without Alexander, one of their better special teams players, on Sunday, it’s quite odd that an NFL team in 2015 would find it difficult to play a game with only four safeties on the roster (Rodney McLeod, T.J. McDonald, Cody Davis, and Mark Barron). With that said, Barron plays regularly from scrimmage in more of a linebacker role, so perhaps the staff didn’t want to risk the possibility of losing both their safeties and having to move Barron away from his usual role as a Swiss army knife. However, that’s a pretty advanced level of crisis planning considering that the team has had McDonald and McLeod on the field for virtually every play this season.


(archauthority.com)

After an uneventful, confusing, and sometimes hard-to-watch three-year marriage, the St. Louis Rams finally did the inevitable on Tuesday and released running back Isaiah Pead, their third of three second-round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft (50th overall). In a transaction that truly had the Rams’ mark of trying to justify their draft picks stamped on it, cornerback Brandon McGee (a 2013 fifth-rounder) was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster to take Pead’s place. As previously reported, former New Orleans wide receiver Nick Toon was signed to the practice squad to take McGee’s place.

McGee gives the Rams a fifth corner on the active roster, which is a nice asset to have considering that Marcus Roberson is the only legitimate cornerback the Rams had behind injury-prone Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson (Lamarcus Joyner can contribute as the team’s nickelback, but realistically is too small to play the outside at just 5-foot-8 and 184 pounds).  It looked like McGee, whose initial two-year Rams tenure was marred by injuries, was no longer in the team’s plans when they released him at the final cutdown this year. After Week 1, however, he was brought back to the practice squad and now evidently has improved to the point where he earned back a spot on the active roster. If healthy, McGee can be a solid special teams contributor and is a guy that the Rams can plug in if they suffer another injury in the defensive backfield.


(fansided.com)

The St. Louis Rams shook up their practice squad on Tuesday afternoon as they began preparation for their Week 2 matchup against the Washington Redskins. Safety Jacob Hagen and cornerback Trovon Reed were released, while cornerbacks Brandon McGee and Melvin White were added to the 10-man practice squad. McGee and White are both more viable options to come up to the 53-man roster and contribute should the Rams need another corner soon with Trumaine Johnson coming off a concussion and just three other cornerbacks on the roster.

McGee, who was selected out of Miami by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, was released during the final cutdown to 53 players, but he now returns to the organization after just one week away. The 5-foot-11, 193-pounder has been almost constantly injured during his Rams career thus far; in fact, the leading factor in his release was the fact that he missed almost all of training camp this year with a foot injury. He’s apparently healthy to practice now, though, and with 17 NFL games under his belt, he’s a more reliable emergency backup at corner than Reed.


(arcauthority.com)

NEWS UPDATE
McGee (foot) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSIS
"Doesn't look good" were the ominous words from coach Jeff Fisher after McGee aggravated his foot injury in Week 8, and as it turns out, the second-year corner will indeed be forced to miss the rest of the season. McGee notched four tackles (three solo) in his two games this year, giving him 18 (14 solo) for his NFL career.


(rotowire.com)

After dealing with an ankle injury through much of the preseason, Rams defensive back Brandon McGee had his patience tested.

“When you get hurt at a key time like that, it’s devastating,’’ the second-year pro from the University of Miami said. “You want to be out there, you want to compete, but you also have to be smart about it. If you go out there before you’re ready, you’re taking a chance on hurting the team and yourself.

“I tried to be positive, knowing it’s all part of God’s plan.’’

But McGee, a fifth-round draft pick in 2013, is healthy and “back to my normal self.’’

“Just trying to stay ready, staying on top of the game plan and ready to contribute in any way I’m needed,’’ he said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get back on the field and play and be effective.’’

The 5-foot-11, 193-pound McGee was in on 15 special-teams plays in the loss to Minnesota and could be in line for some defensive action this week with nickel back Lamarcus Joyner dealing with a back issue.

“I’m probably more comfortable outside,’’ he said. “But worked in the nickel during OTAs and I’ve also been part of the dime package, too. The time is here for me to step up and I’m ready to do whatever the coaches ask me to do.’’

McGee played in 15 games as a rookie, contributing 10 tackles on defense and tying for third on the squad with six special-teams tackles.


(stltoday.com)

As a rookie last season, cornerback Brandon McGee played in 15 games. In the Rams’ secondary, he ranks fourth in NFL seniority behind third-year players Rodney McLeod (32 games), Janoris Jenkins (31 games) and Trumaine Johnson (28 games).

There are 16 corners and safeties on the Rams’ 90-man training camp roster. Of those, nine have yet to take a snap in an NFL game.

“It’s definitely unique, being part of such a young group,” said McGee, a 23-year-old from the University of Miami. “It keeps it fresh, it keeps it alive, and it keeps it fun. We’re competing day in and day out, and I think that’s something that will make all of us better in the long run. No one here is afraid of competition or shies away from it. We embrace it.”

A fifth-round draft pick in 2013, McGee was in on just 78 plays from scrimmage — roughly the equivalent of one game — and contributed seven tackles and three assists last season. But he became a core player on special teams, tying for third on the squad with six tackles.

“I would’ve liked to contribute more defensively, but when I got a chance, I felt like I played decent,” he said. “And I felt like I did pretty well in my special teams role. Special teams is such a big part of the game, especially at this level because one hit or one block can change a game.

“We take a lot of pride in what we did last year, and every one of us is looking for even more success on special teams this year.”

The 5-foot-11, 193-pound McGee has been getting some work with the starters, and he feels the team overall is getting better with each practice.

“As a rookie, there’s just a different learning curve,” he said. “Most of the time, you feel like you’re learning on the fly. But now, with a that first season under my belt, I’m definitely more comfortable. I have a better understanding of the defense and of the offensive routes; I know how to take care of my body better and to prepare for the day-to-day grind here.”

And like his teammates, McGee is excited about playing for new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

“Coach Williams, he brings a lot of tenacity and feistiness with his play-calling,” McGee said. “He’s a guy who’s going to challenge you to get better and to compete on every play.”


(stltoday.com)

That player would be Brandon McGee, who played in 15 games as a rookie last season but as a backup and special teams player.

“Brandon McGee is coming on in his second year already,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said during OTAs, noting that all of the team’s second-year players had make significant strides.

McGee, a 5-foot-11, 193-pounder, has an advantage over the Rams newcomers in the secondary because he has experience. Obviously one year of action doesn’t make the University of Miami product a seasoned veteran, but it does make a difference.

“I feel confident, really, going into it confident,” McGee said of how his second training camp is different from his first. “I feel like I know the position better. I just know the game a little bit better and kind of know what to expect. We’ve got a great group of guys, too. We’re a young bunch but we help each other out a lot. We kind of have to. It’s good. I feel pretty confident going into this year.”

What else is different?

“Definitely knowing what’s expected and also just knowing where to be, kind of,” McGee said. “Cornerback in this league is just kind of one of them things you get better with over time, by experience, just feeling it out, going through the reps, just going against receivers. We’ve got a great group of receivers, too. Just the repetitions are really the tool to learning.”

There’s probably not another secondary in the NFL as young as this Rams group. Three of the team’s projected starters — cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson and safety Rodney McLeod — are entering their third seasons. The other, safety T.J. McDonald, his second.

McGee, 23, said the team’s young players rely on each other.

“It kind of keeps the room alive,” he said. “It kind of keeps the room fresh, because we’re all like learning from each other. Because we’re all learning basically the same thing at the same time. I guess our veterans in the room, three-year guys Rodney McLeod, Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins, those guys are always willing to help.”

The 149th overall pick of the 2013 draft learned plenty last season while competing on special teams and at cornerback, with most of his snaps coming at the nickel cornerback spot.

McGee trained in Fort Lauderdale in his first NFL offseason, including working out with Rams’ undrafted rookie free agent cornerback Marcus Roberson.

The former Hurricanes defensive back said he worked on his coverage skills, but also studied the playbook because he wanted to know not only his assignments but to have a better understanding of what all 11 defenders were doing on the field.

Now, in his second training camp, McGee gets to put that work to use.

The Rams drafted Lamarcus Joyner in the second round to be a nickel cornerback, the spot that McGee is also competing for. St. Louis even traded its fifth-round draft pick to move up a few spots to make sure it was able to nab Joyner.

Fisher and general manager Les Snead wanted competition in the secondary and now they have it with McGee, Joyner and others are fighting for positions.

“We’re all just competing, really, and we can’t really do anything but make each other better,” McGee said. “That’s kind of the goal going into every practice, just competing and pushing each other and just learning from each other honestly.”

And that will, in turn, help the defense.

Defensive end Robert Quinn said earlier in camp that new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was challenging everyone on the defense, but in particular the Rams’ back seven. The play of the secondary could go a long way in determining how successful St. Louis is this season.

“We approach every practice with a chip on our shoulder and we’ve done a good job thus far and I also think we can do better of just continuously executing day in and day out,” McGee said. “We’ve got one of the best d-lines, one of the best front sevens, in the game. It’s our job, if we don’t allow balls to go over our heads and we compete at a high level, we could do something special.”


(stl.scout.com)

With cornerback Cortland Finnegan on injured reserve and Trumaine Johnson leaving the game against the Bears with a concussion, rookie cornerback Brandon McGee was pressed into action. McGee played 56 of the team's 79 defensive snaps. Prior to Sunday's game, he had played just five snaps on defense all season: one against Jacksonville and four against Carolina.

He picked up three crucial penalties, including one for illegal contact on third-and-22 that wiped out a Janoris Jenkins interception and led to a Bears touchdown that cut the Rams' lead to 21-14 in the second quarter.

Coach Jeff Fisher said McGee "did good." Added Fisher, "He had several penalties. The one - the third-and-22 - we'd like to see them officiate kind of like a 'loose five' they call it. I think it's right about seven yards and it had no effect on the play. One of the things I think has happened with Brandon downfield is that the roles he's playing in special teams, you get a little grabby here and there so he hasn't been playing any defense, but we'll get that stuff corrected. But from a physical standpoint, he filled the run well. He didn't make any mistakes, and so I thought overall with the win, considering the win, that was a good effort, first outing."


(ksdk.com)

It’s been awhile since I’ve interviewed some of our local celebs who are “style broker certified.” But I’m back with a stylish, young chap who is not only humble, but he possesses that classic, boy-next-door charm that will get him far in his career.

The newest addition to the Style File roster is rookie cornerback for the St. Louis Rams, Brandon McGee. He’s not only a good addition to the Rams organization, he’s eager to be an overall household brand name.

Coming from humble beginnings, Brandon knows what it takes to make it in today’s media-saturated society, and he’s conscious of his privilege to be a part of a professional football organization. He was picked in the 5th round and 149th overall in the 2013 NFL draft.

He’s not your average, cliché ball player. He has an overall laidback style and prefers to be at home compared to the club. Peep the file and get familiar with the dude.


(stlamerica.com)

ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner considers fifth-round pick Brandon McGee a candidate for the Rams' nickel corner job.

McGee got an extended look with the first-team defense Friday and will continue to push Trumaine Johnson in camp. Cortland Finnegan moves into the slot in sub-packages, so McGee is competing to book end Janoris Jenkins.


(rotoworld.com)

St. Louis Rams CB Brandon McGee saw time with the first-team defense, working in nickel packages, in practice Thursday, Aug. 15. McGee is believed to be pushing CB Trumaine Johnson for the role, as Johnson has been a bit inconsistent throughout camp.



(rotoworld.com)

ST. LOUIS — About the only surprise St. Louis Rams rookie Brandon McGee experienced since finishing his college career at Miami came during the three-day NFL draft.

The cornerback heard from enough people he should expect to be taken on the second day, in either the second or third rounds. After no team selected him, McGee blew off some steam on the fields he grew up playing.

“It was like adding fuel to the fire, honestly,” he said Saturday, the final day of the team’s rookie minicamp. “I actually grabbed my cleats and went to the field. I was kind of frustrated with everything and just went and worked out. It kind of just gave me the opportunity to vent.

“But the Rams called me the very next day and it’s a great situation. I’m happy to be a Ram.”

McGee, selected in the fifth round by St. Louis, joined the Rams other draft choices, their rookie free-agent signees and 27 tryout players at the two-day rookie minicamp at the team’s practice facility.

He’s coming off a four-year career at Miami, where he started his final 24 games. He intercepted three passes, including two his senior season during which he served as one of the Hurricanes’ captains.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said McGee obviously impressed the team’s staff enough on film to get drafted. What he showed on the field during minicamp has supported that decision.

“Brandon is a smart young man,” Fisher said. “He’s got speed, got good size, can change direction and we’re seeing the kind of things that we saw on tape. He’s playing a couple of positions already in just a couple of days.”

McGee worked out at both safety and in the nickel package for the Rams, the same positions he played in college. He said nothing the coaches have asked of him thus far proved overly challenging and that he felt comfortable with the transition.

He also got a chance to go against Tavon Austin, the eighth overall pick in the draft.

While he faced plenty of talented wide receivers at Miami, going against Austin provided a preview of what the NFL might be like.

“He’s a really shifty guy, he’s really quick,” McGee said. “He’s good competition. It prepares me and it prepares him as well for some of the things I’ll see on Sunday.”

McGee also broke up a few passes intended for Austin.

The transition to the NFL has proven relatively smooth so far, McGee said, but learning the new terminology is a bit tricky.

McGee said he’s not concerned, though. He’s had the playbook -- delivered on an iPad, which he said was the best thing the Rams provided since they drafted him -- long enough to get a grasp of the system.

He said knowing the system and translating that on the field is all that matters, regardless if he was a first-round pick or the 149th overall selection where the Rams grabbed him.

“I got a lot of third-round projections going into the draft, so that’s where I thought I’d land,” he said. “But everything happens according to God’s plan. So, I’m not mad at the way things fell out. I fell into a great situation, great program, great coaches. I’m looking forward to moving forward.”


(washingtonpost.com)

Heading into the 2013 NFL Draft, the University of Miami held a streak of 37 consecutive years of having a player selected.

The Hurricanes record of having players drafted and going on to find success in the NFL is as good or better than every college program in history. For most of that streak, Miami hasn’t had many close calls with players waiting little time to hear their names called in the first round and keeping the streak alive.

In 2009, there was a close call when only one Hurricane went in the draft (Spencer Adkins) and he wasn’t drafted until the sixth round.

This year, there wasn’t much doubt that the streak would continue but it would likely have to wait until day three for it to happen.

As it turned out, it was the Rams who ensured the streak would continue when, in the fifth round using the 149th overall pick, they selected Miami cornerback Brandon McGee.

In landing McGee, the Rams got a speedy, athletic corner with good size to eventually help out on defense and the versatility to contribute on special teams right away.

“He was a gunner and covered very well,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “(He’s got a) track background, but is a good football player, good size. He is 5’11, 192-93 pounds. He’s under 4.4 (40 time) and he’s got cover skills and understands the game.”

While McGee didn’t post any eye-popping statistics in his time at Miami, signs point to a size, athleticism, speed and skill package that is only now starting to be developed.

After losing fourth cornerback Bradley Fletcher to Philadelphia in free agency, the Rams entered the draft needing someone to help supplement the depth behind Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson.

Considering the other, more pressing needs the Rams had entering the draft, they knew they’d likely have to find a corner later on in the draft and that’s exactly what they did with a little help from new defensive coordinator Tim Walton.

Walton spent four seasons at Miami where he coached the likes of future NFL defensive backs like Kelly Jennings and Kenny Phillips. While Walton never coached McGee or even had contact with him in the run up to the draft, there were a few connections Walton tapped into for more information on McGee.

Having worked out with Phillips in Coral Gables, McGee said he heard good things about his new defensive coordinator from Phillips.

“First of all, he’s a great coach,” McGee said. “He’s just a real players’ coach, smart guy as well, easy to talk to. Phillips told me he had a great relationship with Walton while he was there, so I’m looking forward to establishing the same.”

The connections to Miami didn’t end there as Fisher and general manager did their homework on McGee. Former Hurricanes linebacker Mike Barrow is a shared connection on the current Miami staff and offered congratulations on the pick soon after it was made, noting that McGee is a hard worker.

“We’re looking for him to having an opportunity to come in and fill in at the corner spot, the fourth corner spot,” Fisher said. “(He can) also pick up where ‘Fletch’ left off last year. He’s an outstanding special teams player.”

While McGee had a little bit of a wait to hear his name called, he did his best to remain calm as the rounds went by.

Remaining confident in his pre-draft showings, McGee had confidence that eventually he’d get an opportunity.

In January, McGee performed well at the East-West Shrine game in an all star game format that helped him get on the Rams’ radar a bit more. That came on the heels of a solid senior season in which McGee posted 54 tackles, two interceptions and seven passes defended.

When McGee went to the Scouting Combine in February, McGee had high hopes that his performance in the 40-yard dash would turn some heads. While he blazed through the 40-yard dash in a cornerback best 4.4 seconds, he was actually a bit disenchanted in his showing.

“It was, but I was actually kind of disappointed with the time,” McGee said. “I definitely wanted to run faster simply because I had been timed at 4.2’s all throughout college and all throughout training for the combine. I just didn’t have my best performance on that day. I’ll take a 4.3 but I was definitely shooting for a 4.2.”

In terms of intangibles, McGee brings his share to the table as well as he was also a team captain in 2012. That was an honor he took great pride in.

“It’s just a blessing to be in that position to be voted captain and to really be empowered by the coaching staff to lead the team in a sense,” McGee said. “I’m definitely looking to take the same leadership characteristics to St. Louis, go in and learn as much as I can, No. 1, and just compete.”

Now that he’s part of the Rams, McGee actually has other connections to the franchise that go beyond the coaching staff. He was high school rivals with fellow rookie class member Stedman Bailey when he played at Plantation (Fla.) High.

McGee also maintains a friendship with current Rams offensive lineman Brandon Washington. Coincidentally, it was Washington who first tipped off McGee to the fact that the Rams were looking to add him to this year’s draft haul.

“We spoke (last Friday night) through text message and the crazy thing he said was, ‘If we draft corner, we’re going to take you,’” McGee said. “I didn’t know how he knew that. I don’t know how he guessed that, but he guessed it right on the head.”

McGee will report to the Rams with the rest of his rookie brethren a week from Thursday and begin the process of getting acclimated to the Rams defense. That’s one area he has no worries about entering the NFL for he believes that is one of his greatest strengths.

“I think the football intelligence aspect of it, understanding the game, being able to learn the game, being able to draft a game plan, and also just being athletic,” McGee said. “Using my speed to my advantage, being able to adjust during the game, also being able to run with just about anybody, just about any receiver, being able to play inside in the slot position, I think those are really my biggest assets.”


(stlouisrams.com)

Brandon McGee (Senior) was the first proCane drafted in the 2013 NFL Draft going to the St. Louis Rams with the 149th pick of the Draft in the 5th Round.

Mike James (Senior) followed Brandon McGee by getting picked with in the 6th Round, 189th pick overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Below are the free agent signing which will be constantly updated:

Kendal Thompkins WR (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Will Attend Chiefs Camp May 10-12
Vaughn Telamaque S (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Ray Ray Armstrong S (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - St. Louis Rams
Ramon Buchanon LB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Seattle Seahawks
Dalton Botts P (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Will Attend Buccaneers Camp May 2-5 and Saints Camp May 9-11
Jake Wieclaw K (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Jeremy Lewis OL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Darius Smith DL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Andrew Swasey DB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams addressed an area of need in the fifth round of the NFL draft, taking Miami cornerback Brandon McGee.

McGee was timed in 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine. He was a captain his senior season and started his last two years with the Hurricanes, totaling three interceptions, 11 pass deflections and 109 tackles in 44 games.

McGee tied for sixth on the team in tackles his senior season and figures to provide depth for a team that entered Saturday with just four cornerbacks on the roster. He was the 149th overall selection.


(washingtonpost.com)

After Thursday night’s barren first round, the Miami Hurricanes have now gone five straight years without a premium pick in the NFL Draft.

In the five drafts prior to that, the Canes had 11 first-rounders, including six in 2004.

Thursday, though, was a long way from those Canes glory years.

Instead, three Alabama players were among the top 11 picks, showing the type of draft domination that used to belong to Miami. Cornerback Dee Milliner went ninth to the Jets, offensive guard Chance Warmack was selected 10th by the Titans, and offensive tackle D.J. Fluker was picked 11th by the Chargers.

Two of Miami’s Atlantic Coast Conference rivals – North Carolina and Florida State – also had players selected among the first 16 players. UNC offensive guard Jonathan Cooper went seventh to the Cardinals, and FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel was selected 16th by the Bills.

The second half of the first round saw four more ACC players get picked – two more from FSU, one more from UNC and one from Clemson.

Meanwhile, according to every available draft analyst, no Canes player will even be considered until somewhere in the middle rounds, when running back Mike James and cornerback Brandon McGee could be selected.

Opinions are mixed on McGee and James.

McGee’s speed has the attention of scouts, and it’s a big reason why NFL.com projects him to go anywhere from Round 4 to Round 7. He ran a 4.4 at the NFL Combine, the 13th-fastest time recorded in this year’s testing at Indianapolis.

But McGee had an inconsistent career at Miami before finally emerging as a senior. Pro Football Weekly does not project McGee as getting drafted and opines that a lack of confidence is an issue.

Pro Football Weekly has a higher opinion of James, predicting he will get drafted in the sixth or seventh round as an undersized fullback at 5-11, 220 pounds.
James scores high on character and provides solid production. But he doesn’t have the breakaway speed scouts would love for a running back or the desired size of a blocking back.

Plus, fullback is a dying position in the NFL, with most teams opting for more three-receiver or two-tight end formations.

Perhaps future drafts will be kinder to the Canes, who in the next couple of years figure to be sending several talents to the NFL such as running back Duke Johnson, offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, defensive end Anthony Chickillo and linebacker Denzel Perryman, among others.


(miamiherald.com)

You know as well as I do that Miami has been an NFL draft factory.

In fact, the Canes have had at least one player selected in the NFL draft every year since 1974, a string of 39 consecutive seasons. That streak, however, could be in jeopardy this year. Cornerback Brandon McGee and running back Mike James are the only two prospects with a shot at getting drafted, but neither is a guaranteed lock to get picked.

If they do come off the board, it probably will not happen until Day 3 (Rounds 4-7). The latest ESPN.com seven-round mock draft has McGee going in the sixth round and James not drafted at all. NFL.com projects McGee going in the fifth round and James going undrafted.

Miami had its streak in jeopardy back in 2009, but it was saved when Spencer Adkins went in the sixth round to Atlanta. He was the only Miami player chosen that year. That also happens to be the only time since 1987 that the Canes failed to have a player drafted in the first three rounds.

This also marks the fifth straight year without a first-round pick from Miami, a program that has had 60 first-round picks in its history -- tops among ACC schools.

Beyond Miami, the next longest draft streaks in the ACC belong to both Virginia and Florida State. Both schools have had at least one player chosen in each of the last 30 drafts, dating back to 1983. And both are expected to have at least one player picked this year -- tackle Oday Aboushi from the Hoos and 11 or more from Florida State.


(espn.com)

CORAL GABLES — Less than a week before the NFL draft, it's starting to feel real for Brandon McGee. The former Miami cornerback is projected as a mid-to-late round pick in the three-day event starting Thursday in New York.

In the meantime, McGee is working out with personal trainer Tony Sands in Fort Lauderdale. He's just trying to comprehend the realization of his dream could be just days away.

"Oh, man, It's significant at this point," McGee said Friday. "I'm just sitting back, waiting on the phone call. It's a blessing just to be in this position. I know a lot of people have a projection and this and that, but at the end of the day, nobody really knows."

McGee said NFL scouts are telling him he could go as early as the mid rounds.

•Miami learned Friday when it would renew its football rivalry with Notre Dame. The ACC announced the next three years of the Fighting Irish's games in its new arrangement with the conference.

The Hurricanes will travel to South Bend in 2016. A return date would come sometime after that. They met last season in Chicago with the Irish crushing Miami, 41-3 in the first regular-season meeting since 1990.

•A few members of the Miami men's basketball team will throw out the first pitch of Saturday's UM baseball game. Coach Jim Larranaga and all members of the team were invited to participate before the 1 p.m. game with Clemson at Alex Rodriguez Park.Players will also sign autographs after the pitch.


(sun-sentinel.com)

The lives of Mike James and Brandon McGee will be intertwined for at least another week.

Both played football together at the University of Miami, waited until after they graduated to pursue an NFL career and are mid- to late-round prospects in the NFL Draft that begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.

And both will be thinking of their departed moms when their dreams are realized, if, indeed they are realized, this weekend.

“Draft day is coming, and everybody asks me ‘Where are you going to be this weekend? Who are you going to be with?’ ” said James, 22, the running back whose mother died in a car accident in December 2010.

“It’s hard to give anyone a definitive answer because for 19 years I thought I was going to be with my mom, no matter what, on draft day.

“Brandon and I share a lot when it comes to that.”

McGee, the 22-year-old cornerback whose mother died of cancer when he was 13, said his mom “will be the first thing that comes to my mind” when he’s drafted. “Before she passed I promised I’d make her proud and get to the pros.

“That day is coming soon.”

Except for McGee and James — and even they are not shoo-ins to be picked — this is expected to be a meager weekend for the Canes, who were spoiled from 1995 to 2008 with at least one player chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Each is humble, respectful and well-respected, and each thankful for what they do have — as opposed to bitter about what they don’t — McGee and James, in separate interviews, said they might not turn on the TV for the majority of the three days.

“I talked to some older guys — D.J. Williams, Antrel Rolle,” James said. “D.J. went in the first round and he told me it still felt like forever. He said, ‘Whatever you do, take your mind off it. It can be stressful sitting there watching people and thinking, ‘They’re going and I was better than him!’

“The best thing to do is try to take a step back from it.”

Said McGee: “I’ll be at home [in Plantation] with my immediate family. I thought about having a little party, but I might not even do that. I might not even watch it, which would be the first year I don’t.

“I’ll record it, but I don’t want to know until it happens.”

McGee, 5-11 and 193 pounds, had one of the fastest 40-yard times at the combine in February, a 4.40 — good for 13th overall. During his UM career, he was clocked as fast as 4.29.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS
He came into his senior season still waiting to fulfill the expectations he created with an outstanding high school career at Plantation, where he was a dominant quarterback and considered the nation’s 10th-best corner by Rivals.com.

In 2012 he started all 12 games and tied for sixth on the team with 54 tackles, had two interceptions and seven pass breakups.

His strong performance during practice week for the East-West Shrine Game (including two interceptions) was noted across the nation.

The teams for which he worked out included the Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears.

“I work hard, I’m coachable, I can learn just about any scheme in any defense,” McGee said.

“Regardless of what round you go in, what counts is how you perform once you’re in an NFL uniform. I tend not to focus on the negative. It’s a blessing to be in this position.”

UM coach Al Golden said McGee improved tremendously in 2012.

‘AN EXCELLENT PRO’
“He’s going to be an excellent pro,” Golden said. “If you look at his body of work, everything is trending so positively. His size, his strength, he’s always had length and long speed and now he’s married that with a tool box.

“He showed the ability to tackle and be physical on the edge. I see his peak coming as he enters the draft.”

James, whose career was held back by having former star Lamar Miller ahead of him, and then, this past season, sharing reps with Duke Johnson, more than doubled his output in 2012 from the previous season.

He rushed for a career-best 621 yards and six touchdowns on 147 carries for a 4.2-yard-per-carry average, and was UM’s third-leading receiver with 30 catches for 344 yards and three touchdowns.

Though some projections have McGee going sooner than the 5-11, 222-pound James, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes James is the better value as a Day 3 pick.

“I like Mike James,’’ Kiper said. “He was one of the guys you can get probably a little later in the draft. It’s a kid over 220 pounds [who] has better quickness than he does 40 time. He runs inside very effectively” but “can bounce it to the perimeter. He’s got some skills.

“You saw what Alfred Morris [of FAU] did last year as a sixth-round pick.”

‘AT PEACE’
James played fullback as a freshman and is regarded as the ultimate team player who is smart, loyal, has great hands and wears defenses down with considerable strength.

“Everybody wants 30 carries a game,” said James, who was timed at 4.53 in the 40 and did 28 reps in the 225-pound bench press. “But I trusted the judgment of my coaches. We did the best we could to try to make the team go as a team, not just to make Mike James go as an individual.

“I’m at peace.”

Golden said he’s confident James will flourish.

“Wherever you put him on your board, that’s what he’s worth,” Golden said. “There’s not much you don’t know about Mike James. He’s as pure as any draft pick you’ll ever get. I think he’s a mid-round player, and he’ll make somebody’s team and have a great career.”


(miamiherald.com)

For the fifth consecutive year, UM will not have a player picked in the first round of the NFL Draft.

In fact, it seems likely only two Hurricanes — running back Mike James and cornerback Brandon McGee — will be drafted and neither will go until the third day of the selection process during rounds four to seven.

Only once since 1987 has UM not had a player drafted within the first three rounds. In 2009, Spencer Adkins was the only UM player drafted and he went in the sixth round.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. spoke this week about what he sees in store for James and McGee.

“I like Mike James. He was one of the guys I think you can get probably a little later in the draft. I think about day three. It’s a kid over 220 pounds, has better quickness than he does 40 time. He runs inside very effectively. Can bounce it to the perimeter. He’s got some skills. I think as a later round pick, he’ll make a team and contribute. You saw what [FAU's} Alfred Morris did last year as a sixth round pick.

"[I'm] not as high on Brandon McGee as some people may be. He has recovery ability. He flashes in coverage. I think he still needs a little bit of work. I projected him more as a late round pick. So they’re both late round picks, I’m just a little higher on James right now as I am on McGee as an overall rating.”

READ MORE AT JORGE MILIAN’S BLOG HERE.


(palmbeachpost.com)

Miami Hurricanes CB Brandon McGee has worked out privately for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets. McGee also is drawing interest from the New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, and Minnesota Vikings.




(kffl.com)

10 years ago, when the Miami Hurricanes were coming off of back-to-back national championship appearances, it would have been nearly impossible to come out of Miami and be a sleeper. Dealing with scandals, however, has brought the Hurricanes back down to mediocrity in recent seasons, and as a result, Miami’s Brandon McGee may be actually one of the most promising sleepers at the cornerback position in the 2013 NFL Draft.

McGee feels that his stock is on the rise after strong performances at the East-West Shrine Game and the NFL Scouting Combine.

“I definitely feel like I did everything that I needed to,” McGee said in an interview. “Pro day went excellent, the workouts I’ve been doing have been going great.”

McGee did not end up playing in the game itself during Shrine Game week, but had a very strong week in practices according to numerous media scouts who attended, including TFY Draft Insider’s Tony Pauline, who wrote following one practice for PhiladelphiaEagles.com that McGee’s performance could be described as “wow.”

McGee said he thinks he “really impressed” the scouts in attendance at the Shrine Game with his athleticism, playmaking ability by forcing turnovers and his understanding of the game.

“Being able to see some of the most talented guys and going out there and just having a great showing, it definitely helped me out a lot,” McGee said.

At the combine, McGee had some issues with catching the ball consistently and looked stiff with his hip turns in drills, but he did display some good athleticism with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, 6.71-second 3-cone drill and 9-foot-11 broad jump.

McGee was a two-year starter at cornerback for the Hurricanes, and those two years were littered with inconsistent play. Nonetheless, he follows a long line of Miami cornerbacks who have gone on to NFL success, including Duane Starks, Phillip Buchanon and Sam Shields.

“It’s definitely something that I don’t take lightly,” McGee said of the defensive back history at Miami. “The guys that came before me paved the way in a sense.”
Buchanon’s career ended at Miami ended with a national championship victory at the end of the 2001 season, after which he, legendary safety Ed Reed and fellow cornerback Mike Rumph were all first-round picks out of the Hurricanes secondary. McGee’s career was not quite as glorious, as the Hurricanes did not play in a bowl game in either of McGee’s starting seasons due to NCAA violations.

McGee said that being part of a program that was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons helped him learn to work through adversity.

“You learn how to be in a situation and just make the most of it, despite the circumstances,” McGee said.

McGee said the experience also taught him how to be a better leader, which was especially important last season given that he was the only senior starter on the Hurricanes defense.

“We had a young team,” McGee said. “Just going out there and leading every week definitely prepared me for what I’m about to get into now, and also just learning how to handle being in the public eye, because a lot of people, they want to talk about the scandal surrounding the school, but as players … it’s our duty to kind of keep our team focused and off a lot of negative energy.”

McGee’s athleticism and playmaking ability make him a likely draft selection, but he believes his intangibles may be his best traits.

“One of my greatest assets is something that can’t deteriorate over time, but actually get better, and that’s my intelligence of the game,” McGee said. “Just being able to understand defenses, understand what I’m doing, being able to learn.”

A likely Day 3 draft choice, McGee said he has received positive vibes from NFL teams.

“A lot of teams are just telling me, they’ve seen improvement in me from my junior to my senior year,” McGee said. “They talk about the East-West Shrine Game, going out there and competing, they also talk about me being able to go out and do what I did at the combine, which also helped me out as well.

“There’s been a lot of positive feedback, but at the same time, you know and I know, the draft is unpredictable. It could go any way,” McGee added.

McGee said he wants to make it in the league for his late mother, who he told he would make it to the NFL before she died of breast cancer in 2004. According to an August story from the Miami Herald, McGee’s father is also a throat cancer survivor, though he had to have his larynx removed in 2001.

To be drafted would be the realization of a lifelong dream, McGee said.

“Just being able to be in a position to even have the opportunity to play in the NFL is a blessing,” McGee said. “I just remain humble, and I’ll be ready for draft day, trust me.”

Following the draft, McGee said his NFL goal is “getting there and staying there.”

“When you step on the field, you’re not just playing for yourself but you’re playing in front of all, you’re pretty much auditioning for every team, every game,” McGee said. “(The) NFL is unpredictable … with the new CBA, all these big contracts going around now, you never know when they’re letting go of guys.”

(nepatriotsdraft.com)

University of Miami cornerback Brandon McGee has private workouts with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears and the New York Jets, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

McGee has also drawn heavy interest from the New England Patriots, Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings.

The 5-foot-11, 193-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. He bench pressed 225 pounds 14 times with a 33 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 9-11 broad jump, a 4.18 20-yard shuttle and a 6.71 three-cone drill.

At his campus Pro Day workout, he improved his vertical leap to 34 inches.

McGee played in the East-West Shrine all-star game.

As a senior, he started every game and intercepted two passes with 54 tackles and four tackles for losses.


(scout.com)

All Canes is located at 5831 Ponce de Leon Boulevard - Coral Gables, FL - 33146 a foul ball away from Mark LIght Stadium.

The Chicago Bears had a pre-draft visit with Miami Hurricanes CB Brandon McGee. McGee is expected to be a mid-round pick.




(kffl.com)

There was a large turnout of NFL scouts and bigwigs for Miami Pro Day on Thursday. Only three pro teams were absent, and Chief among those in attendance, Bill Belichick reportedly went down to do some scouting for the Patriots. The Pats are in need of secondary help, and Hurricanes cornerback Brandon McGee could be of a lot of interest. McGee did not disappoint.

McGee measured in at 5'11, 191 pounds and he had a 34" vertical with a broad jump of 9'11". Those numbers were very similar to what he showed at the Combine. McGee ran a 3.40 40-yard dash at the Combine and had 14 reps on the bench, so he did not perform those tasks again at Pro Day:

The fastest 40 of the day came from wide receiver Kendal Thompkins, who posted an official 4.37, blowing away the competition. That time would have placed him fourth among wide receivers at the Combine. Thompkins also had the second-highest vertical leap, reaching 35 inches, just behind safety Vaughn Telemaque at 36 inches.

Also performing at the event was running back Mike James, but he didn't do much. After measuring in at 5'10", 217 pounds, James ran the L Drill in 6.98 seconds. He took the rest of his numbers from the Combine, where he ran the 40 in 4.53 seconds.

One of the biggest surprise performers was perhaps linebacker Ray Buchanan. According to one scout in attendance, Buchanan ran an unofficial 4.53 in the 40, after putting up a 34-inch vertical and jumping 10', 8" in the broad jump. Buchanan ended up with an official time of 4.55.

Defensive lineman Darius Smith had an impressive 33 reps on the bench. Was it enough to impress Belichick though, is the important question.


(sbnation.com)

proCane Brandon McGee ran very well, posting a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash. He's been having a great draft process. Jamar Taylor, Dee Milliner, Tyrann Mathieu, Rod Sweeting, Eric Reid, Brandon McGee and Leon McFadden were the most impressive prospects.

McGee finished SIXTH among RBs in the 40-yard dash with a 4.40 time.

McGee finished tied for 12th in the bench press among CBs with 14 reps of 225 lbs.

McGee had an impressive 3-Cone drill time of 6.71 seconds putting him FOURTH overall, and a great 20-yard shuttle run placing him tied for 12th with a time 4.18 seconds.

proCane defensive back Brandon McGee dives for the ball as he runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Every MONDAY Night proCanes.com joins All Canes Radio to bring the latest news on not only current Hurricane football but also proCane news and exclusive interviews with current and former proCanes live from Shake Shack in Coral Gables.

Click here to listen to this week’s show and hear our exclusive interviews with future proCane Brandon McGee and proCane Alex Fraser.

Listen to future NFL DB Brandon McGee talk about his days at The U, what he is doing to get ready for the NFL Combine and Draft and much more! Also listen in to what former Hurricane Hoops Star Alex Fraser has to say about the current Number 3 ranked Miami basketball team as well as his days playing at The U!

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes standouts Mike James and Brandon McGee have been invited to participate at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, which be held Feb. 23-26 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The four-day combine will be televised live on NFL Network.

James will participate with the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers on Sun., Feb. 24, while McGee will participate with the defensive backs on Tue., Feb. 26.

In January, James competed in both the Senior Bowl and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He started all 12 games at running back for the Hurricanes in 2012, finishing as the team’s second-leading rusher with 642 yards and six TDs. The Haines City, Fla., product concluded his career with 1,386 rushing yards and 17 scores, while catching 67 passes for 585 yards and five TDs. He was one of 11 FBS players named to the 2012 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team in September.

McGee played in the 88th East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., in January. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he was the 44th Miami Hurricane to play in the game and first UM defensive back since Al Blades in 2001. As a senior in 2012, he started all 12 games at defensive back and finished tied for sixth on the team with 54 tackles. Miami’s shut-down corner was a two-year starter and concluded his career with 24 consecutive starts.

UM’s Brandon McGee was not invited to the Senior Bowl but Senior Mike James did get a last minute invite on Tuesday to the Senior Bowl. Mel Kiper projects both as late round picks, though some scouts believe McGee could rise to a mid-rounder.

“James could push his way on a roster as a third back,” Kiper said, adding no other Cane player will be drafted in April. By the way, James, McGee, Darius Smith and Vaughn Telemaque were on rosters for other draft showcase games this weekend, neither as prestigious as next Saturday's Senior Bowl.


(miamiherald.com)

Wednesday is usually the last day of padded practices at college All-Star games, so generally speaking today is the last chance for prospects to impress scouts before the mad dash to the airport. Here are some of the players that stood out from the East squad practices this morning:

Players that helped themselves:

Brandon McGee, CB, Miami (5106, 195 and 4.58): McGee impressed us again today with his fluidity and acceleration in and out of his breaks, as he was able to close on balls in front of him effectively. He demonstrated loose hips in transition which allowed him to stay on hips man’s hip off the flip. He was physical with receivers on the break but also did a good job of keeping his hands off on downfield routes.


(nationalfootballpost.com)

On a beautiful, sunny morning in Tampa, the East squad practiced and below is a quick run-down on those players that performed well and poorly. Unfortunately, California-PA offensive lineman Eric Kush injured his left ankle during the 1 on 1 drill and we did not see him return.

Players that impressed

1. Brandon McGee, CB, Miami (5106, 195 and 4.58): One of the standout performers this morning, McGee made two outstanding interceptions during today’s practice. Displaying loose hips and quick feet, he was able to flip hips to change directions easily. He consistently was quick reading and reacting to the play, which helped him to break and close fast. On both interceptions his jumping ability, body control and hands showed up as he high pointed the ball and made the interception over a receiver.


(nationalfootballpost.com)