Alex McCalister: Can He Be the Next Dante Fowler Jr.?
Sometimes, it really isn’t any fun being the second act, being the follow-up person that’s expected to deliver a performance as good as the previous one.
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Yet, that’s exactly the proposition that Florida Gators’ DE/LB Alex McCalister faces in 2015.
McCalister is being tasked with having to replace the explosive and talented pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr., who was drafted to the NFL this past May by the Jacksonville Jaguars third overall.
While there are some very key differences between the former roommates, the Gators are hoping for more similarities in terms of pass-rushing production in 2015.
When Fowler left school early, he took with him a career 14.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss. Fowler had 8.5 sacks in 2014, so the Gators lost 28 percent of that sack production the minute he declared for the NFL Draft.
Aug 31, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (6) works out prior to the game against the Toledo Rockets at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
While Fowler Jr. was ready for college football as a true, 5-star freshman, McCalister was the complete opposite coming out of Clemmons, North Carolina.
At 6’7, 212 pounds out of high school, the former basketball player need time (and plenty of food) to bulk up and be able to compete in rigorous SEC football.
Nick De La Torre of Gatorcountry.com noted how Florida staff and coaches essentially told McCalister to eat like there’s no tomorrow in order to gain more strength.
“They just want me to eat until I can’t eat no more. I know for a fact that I have to eat no less than four, five meals a day. No less. I just have to,” McCalister told De La Torre.
After managing to get up to 245 pounds, McCalister made his impact throughout spurts of the 2014 season, where he had 23 tackles, nine for loss, including six sacks and a forced fumble.
The Gators now believe (probably more so hope) that McCalister is ready to fill the void left behind by Fowler Jr.
While McCalister shares some of the same athletic traits that Fowler Jr. displayed at Florida, there are a few question marks about whether or not McCalister can become a pass-rusher extraordinaire.
First, Fowler Jr. was equally strong in rushing the passer and defending the running game, often blowing up running plays himself or diverting them to let his teammates make the tackle.
“They just want me to eat until I can’t eat no more. I know for a fact that I have to eat no less than four, five meals a day. No less. I just have to”
McCalister has yet to prove he can be that same dual player.
Second, McCalister’s production came from off the bench, typically on third-down passing situations.
While six sacks is nothing to sneeze at, there are more opportunities to bring down the quarterback on these kinds of situations, rather than on the other two downs like Fowler showed consistency.
Finally, we still don’t know how exactly defensive coordinator Geoff Collins will use McCalister in his “psycho defense”, which is primarily run through a 4-3 set with four down linemen.
Whenever I’ve watched McCalister on tape, I firmly believe he is a much better pass-rusher playing the “BUCK” position (a standing linebacker/defensive end blitzer) that Fowler Jr. thrived in last year.
Apr 11, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA;Florida Gators defensive lineman Alex McCalister (14) and tight end DeAndre Goolsby (30) react during the second half at the Orange and Blue Debut at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Orange defeated Blue 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Will Collins incorporate this into his defense in 2015 in order to help McCalister produce high sack numbers?
If the Gators want McCalister to be the next Dante Fowler, I surely would hope so.
Positives
- McCalister’s athleticism and quickness are the most enticing aspects to his game. McCalister’s speed off the edge can beat most tackles, including some of the better tackles in the SEC.
- He has a high motor and energy to his game that is infectious. Doesn’t seem to quit on any plays.
- At 6’7, McCalister still has room to grow into his body and become even more of a physical freak, combined with his agility.
- The kid wants to be great and he wants to produce big-time moments. His attitude and demeanor to constantly want to improve are hard not to like.
Question Marks
- While he has moved up to 241 pounds, that’s still considerably light for a DE his size. I worry about how strong McCalister has truly gotten in the offseason to battle with offensive linemen when his initial pass-rush moves don’t work.
- He predominately came off the bench as a third-down, pass-rushing specialist. Will he have the same impact as a starter on defense?
- He’s much more of a impactful player as a 3-4, “BUCK” linebacker than a hand-on-the-ground DE. How will Collins use McCalister in his defense?