Patriots to host McKenzie
The Patriots will host University of South Florida linebacker Tyrone McKenzie on a pre-draft visit that is scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a league source.
The team conducted a private workout with McKenzie, who would project as an inside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 defense, in March.
The 6-2, 243-pound McKenzie is a tackling machine and has one of the draft's more interesting background stories.
He played at three colleges, and after his mother was left unable to work by injuries suffered in an accident he left school and was working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. at a Hampton Inn to support her and his three sisters.
McKenzie started out at Michigan State, but was forced to leave school in the spring of 2005 to take care of his family as a hotel worker. He transferred to Iowa State and sat out the 2005 season. Returning to the field in 2006, McKenzie started all 12 games for Iowa State at middle linebacker and finished eighth in the nation in tackles per game (10.8).
He then transferred to South Florida in 2007 and did not have to sit out a season because the NCAA granted him a hardship waiver on the grounds that the transfer was to be closer to his ailing mother -- USF is 15 minutes from his family's home in Riverview, Fla. McKenzie led South Florida in tackles in 2007 playing strong-side linebacker and collecting a school-record 121 stops.
Last season, McKenzie led the Bulls in tackles again and earned first-team All-Big East honors.
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Looks like a run stuffer, comes out on 3rd down for Guyton. Be a perfect late first day pick. Gotta root for a guy like this!
He has such a good story, I hope he has a shot in playing football professionally.
I really like McKenzie as a possible mid-round pick to develop and supplement into the Patriots 3-4 system as a ILB, along side Jason Williams and Jasper Brinkley. That is of course the Patriots are unable to pick up Maualuga in the first round.
Sounds like a great player to team with Mayo in the middle. Stoutness to compliment Mayo's mobility, similar to Johnson and Bruschi perhaps.
A tackling machine with a great story? You have to root for the guy. Hopefully it'll be while he's wearing the Flying Elvis...
he certainly sounds like he has his priorities in focus & is willing to work hard to accomplish what's necessary to succeed...
Good luck McKenzie... hope you are in pats uniform... even if you aren't, I hope you will grow big in NFL... nice to learn about guys like you instead of #$@%Y^ (you know what I mean)
This guy is perfect to develop as a 2 down LB coming out for guyton.never understood the facination with Maualuga who will be their for the same 2 downs and being replaced by guyton in the first round.
Sounds like a Patriot to me. He'll be successful wherever he goes.
You have to wonder if he would have been even more successful if he did not have all of those off-field challenges to deal with. Alternatively, you could see how those challenges may have provided him focus.
In either scenario, imagine an NFL made up of guys like this instead of Michael Vicks, Pacmans, and Marvin Harrisons.
That would definately free up Roger Goodell to impose more fines on the Patriots. lol.
as an avid usf fan i would think he would be an asset to any team. whether it is on special teams or as a linebacker. I think he has all the qualities as former usf bull and superbowl winner kawika mitchell.
Best of luck to this guy. Seems like a Patriot all around. I hope he reads this message board. You go guy and the best of luck to you and your family. You will be warmly welcomed here in New England, should you be lucky enough to be drafted by the Patriots.
Bally.
I graduated from high school with him. He was a running back in high school. A very good one too. That would be awesome if the patriots drafted him.
welcome TY!!
Sounds like a hell of a guy, glad to see BB and the Pats drafted him. He's not gonna have to work graveyards at a hotel to support his momma anymore!
Welcome to the city of Champions, T-Mac! Hope you like film study LOL! Good luck I know the city gonna be rooting for you!
T-mac eats up film. He was always studying it and was taught by a good LB coach Wally Burnham. He will fit in fine!
As a USF alum & fan, the Pats got a hard working LB that plays every play hard. With the excellent coaching at NE, TMac should get even better. Good luck, Tyrone, and thanks for the great years at USF....you'll be missed.
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