Q&A: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss

Inside linebacker Gerald McRath, formerly of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, recorded a whopping 137 tackles, including 9 1/2 tackles for a loss last season. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two others. Click to listen to interview with Daniel Mogollon.

Hey Gerald, how’s it going today?

McRath: I’m doing great, how're you doing?

I’m doing pretty good. It’s less than three weeks until D-day and I think everybody involved in this Draft process can’t wait for that day to come.

McRath: Oh, no doubt! It’s an exciting moment. I think it's more anxiousness than anything else, just waiting to see where you’re going to go, where you’re going to land, where your new journey is going to begin.

So now, as you’re finished with a lot of the things that are involved, including the NFL Scouting Combine and your Pro Day, and every day is another hour, another minute closer to when you’re going to hear your name called here in the Big Apple, in New York City, are those butterflies starting to churn a little bit?

McRath: Not really. You know, it’s something that you dream of. You’re living the dream. But this is something that I always imagined when I was little; to get to this point it’s kind of like, hey, you’re one day closer. It’s almost like Christmas in April in a sense, you know, waiting to see what going to unfold on the 25th and 26th. So you know, just happy, happy, just cherishing every moment of it. I’m just ready though.

I love that analogy, I couldn’t agree more. It’s like Christmas in April for football fans and I guess you guys you feel the same way. From the fans’ perspective they get to see what’s under the tree for their football team. Who did their team add? How did they get better? This is how you build a winning team—through the Draft. So Gerald, besides all the football stuff, and we’ll get to all that, when you do have some free time, what do you do? What do you do to keep your head straight during this sometimes-strenuous process?

McRath: Oh man, Guitar Hero World Tour! That is my savior! I think that’s keeping me sane right now. I’ve beaten the game once on medium, I have risen my skill level up to hard and I’m waiting on getting the drum and the mic. Right now, me and my sister, we both take turns playing the bass and the guitar, but we need to get a mic and the drum set so I can feel like a real rock star. But that’s what I spend most of my free time on right now.

[Laughs] Are you trying to angle for some kind of marketing deal here, Gerald?

McRath: You know what, I don’t know, but my little sister, I think I’m scaring her because I will jump up and down and I feel like I’m a real rock star. But it is fun, and that’s something that I spend a lot of my time with lately, playing that.

How old is your little sister?

McRath: She’s thirteen.

Thirteen. So that’s like a decent gap. I actually have a similar distance between myself and my kid brother. So what’s that relationship like? I mean, are you almost like half brother, half dad with that?

McRath: Oh man, it’s crazy because just for the fact that I’ve been going to Southern Miss for the past five years and never being able to come home as much as you would love to, trying to do the things down at school, but coming back it’s kind of like wow, my little sister...she’s not little anymore! But it’s good in a sense though, it’s good to be back home and spend some time. She’s on spring break this week, so we’re getting a lot of quality time in, like I said, playing video games, playing Wii, just hanging out together. Big brother, little sister deal.

So let me ask you, man, any guys knocking on that door?

McRath: Not that I know of, or maybe she’s just not telling me. [Laughs]

[Laughs] But they definitely don’t want to find you, right? I mean, they don’t want to find that big brother, 230-pound linebacker waiting there.

McRath: Nah, I think they’ll be more worried about my dad! [Laughs]

[Laughs] That’s for sure though. That’s a scary age though, when the girls hit those teenage years, for sure.

McRath: She’s growing up, though. I can definitely say that she’s going to be able to handle all that.

All right. Back to the Guitar Hero, what kind of jams do you like to play on there?

McRath: Oh man, I’m loving “What I’ve Done”, I think it’s by Lincoln Park and there’s another song called “Float On”. I’m not sure who sings it though, but I love that song. And let’s see, my little sister’s favorite song is “Misery’s Business” and I think she likes No Doubt...that song, “Spiderwebs”.

Now is this stuff that you would listen or is the game introducing you to some different kind of tunes?

McRath: It’s some things that I would listen to, things I’ve heard, especially the Lincoln Park. But it’s actually opened my eyes, you know? It’s funny because now that I listen to it, it’s like hey, me and my sister are like hey, we’re going to go get this and download it on iTunes and put it on our iPods and stuff. It’s a mini-introductory to some new songs as well.

So, how about the Wii? What’s your favorite game on the Wii? The Wii is pretty cool. My daughter, she’s not even three-years old and she can kind of grab it and play with it a little bit and play some of the sports games on that. Not play the whole game, but kind of hit the ball or throw the bowling ball.

McRath: We’re playing right now, the bowling. Nobody can really beat me at the tennis; I think I’m the pro at tennis right now. I’m liking the golf, I’m really liking the golf, the golf is very relaxing. It’s very fun. But I’ve been playing the Mario Brothers and Sonic Track and Field too. That’s kind of like a post workout. If I want to get an extra workout in, I grab that. That is really intense.

Keeping in shape even when you’re playing the video games. So when you play the golf game, the Tiger Woods game, do you put the golf glove on too?

McRath: No, no, I actually need to go get one. Right now I’m just using the controller. But I’m getting ready to take it to the next level though. I think I’m getting to the point where I can start golfing a negative one. Right now I’m stuck in the positives. [Laughs] I’m stuck in the positives when I finish now though.

And how about the other games? Are you one of those guys that plays the bowling game where you kind of just sit on the couch and just rocket it with that powerful arm of yours or do you get up and kind of go through the whole thing as if you were really in a bowling alley?

McRath: You see, that’s the thing with the Wii—like you actually have to get into it. Like you have to really mimic the movements. I’m the type of guy I like to get into it. I like being the best at whatever I do, so I’m going to stand up, I’m going to get the forward movement and everything. And just try to make sure I don’t hit the TV. [Laughs] Make sure my strap is on properly from my controller.

[Laughs] So when you play tennis, you have to clear out and make a little space.

McRath: Oh, no doubt! We have, in the den area, we have a big space where we compete. We go at it. We go at it real well. [Laughs]

Gerald, before we get to the football, I know you also like to watch cartoons. That’s been a little bit of a theme with the draft guys. We’re starting to learn that even the college guys are still into the cartoons. And I’m not just talking about “Family Guy” cartoons. Which cartoons are you into?

McRath: I’ve always been a big fan of Sponge Bob. Growing up, my college room, my dorm room was influenced by it. A lot of guys used to laugh—I used to have the alarm clock, the curtains, the bed sheets, the two pillowcases, the whole nine yards. Mouse pad, everything was Sponge Bob. I’m still with Sponge Bob, I’ve actually moved on a little bit more to older stuff too. I like watching, right now being back home I have a little bit more access to watch more cartoons, with the Boomerang I get to watch The Jetsons, you know, The Flintstones, The Pink Panther, Huckleberry Hound, all the old school cartoons.

Old school!

McRath: Old school cartoons, yeah.

Yeah, I like the old school toons as well. I try to introduce those to my daughter, the old school ones on Boomerang. Tom & Jerry, Jetsons like you said, bringing them back, they’re still on TV there. How about your sister? Does she watch the cartoons with you too or is she in that age where she’s too adult to watch cartoons?

McRath: She’s too adult. I think I’m a little bit too much of a kid for my little sister. [Laughs] The Hills and Taking The Stage, the reality shows, and the music videos and that deal. She’ll watch some cartoons, maybe The Powerpuff Girls, she might watch that. I think The Cartoon Network has a new show, a show about teenagers. She’ll watch that one with me but I think I’m a little young for her right now. [Laughs]

All right, Gerald, let’s talk a little football before we let you go here. So how has this process been? Tell me, you know, how you feel with less than three weeks to go. Are you happy with everything that’s worked out—the Combine, the Pro Day, talking to teams. Are you pleased with your progress so far?

McRath: I definitely am. That’s one of the biggest things when you’re in this process is knowing that you took advantage of every day. Knowing that you took advantage and you don’t have regrets. And I feel at this point in time, I have no regrets. I feel like I’ve done everything to help myself. I’m happy. I’m happy where I’m sitting now. I’m just, like I said earlier, I’m just sitting back. It’s in God’s hands now; I’m waiting on Christmas to come around and for Santa Claus to bring me something good and I’m praying it’ll work, just ready to make it to this next level. Make it, ready to just carry my weight and contribute to the team.

So where do you plan on spending this Christmas in spring?

McRath: With my family. With my mother, my dad, and my little sister. Staying at the house. I think on Sunday if they, I don’t know, I think my parents are thinking about having some family members over. I’m more into the spending time with my family, with my mom, my dad and my little sister. I’m fine with that, with just those guys. Just sitting back, waiting for some good news.

Have you worked out with any teams or had any team visits to this point?

McRath: I have. I worked out with Cincinnati after my Pro Day and I have a workout next week with the Atlanta Falcons.

And when is that?

McRath: That’s on the 16th I believe.

That would be the hometown team there, right? You’re a Georgia native, is that kind of making you excited a little bit, the idea of playing in your own backyard and having your family nearby, being able to watch you at the games?

McGrath: You know what? To be honest with you, I’m just excited to work out with anybody at this point. It’s different because I’m not in college, I’m not in school anymore and my team, they’re at spring ball, they’re actually playing. It’s kind of like I’m sitting here and I’m having to wait. [Laughs] It’s almost like torture to try to get on the field. Like anytime I can get back on the field, it’s great, you know, to do something that I really love and something I’ve been doing for a long time. At this point any workout, anytime I can put my cleats back on, you know what, I’m just...I appreciate it. I’m just happy.

Let me ask you about one of your former teammates before we let you go. That’s Shawn Nelson, tight end out of Southern Miss. Give us a reason why teams should think about him early in that second round.

McRath: He’s a great guy, and a tremendous player as well, a tremendous teammate. He has leadership qualities that you need; he’s able to make a difference in the game. You really can feel his presence when he’s around. He’s the type of player that is a wide receiver in a tight end’s body, which creates tremendous competition levels in practice and in games. It was an honor to be able to play against him and beside him. And you know what, at the end of the day I can say that whatever team that he gets picked to, he’s going to make the team and make the players around him better.

All right, Gerald, as you know, we close things out with a segment we call three-and-out. So First Down: if you had the first pick in the Draft, who would you pick?

McRath: Myself. [Laughs]

[Laughs.] Good answer there, good answer. Second Down:we talked a little cartoons, but what about superheroes? Growing up, who was your favorite superhero?

McRath: Oh man, wow. Batman.

Batman? I’m a big Batman fan myself. And Third Down: if you were in a competition, where would you go further, American Idol or Dancing with the Stars?

McRath: Dancing with the Stars.

Even playing the Guitar Hero, it would still be Dancing with the Stars, huh?

McRath: No doubt. I feel like I have what it takes to do the moves. I wouldn’t mind being on Dancing with the Stars.

Well, you know, if we get you to be the first overall pick, maybe you’ll get there.

McRath: I know that’s right! [Laughs]

All right, Gerald, thanks a lot for giving us some time and talking to us. We definitely want to wish you luck moving forward and you’ll definitely be hearing your name called next weekend.

McRath: Thank you.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Southern Mississippi)

College Stars Declare

OT ANDRE SMITH, ALABAMA
Alabama LT Andre Smith will forgo his senior season and enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

Ross Mandel's Take: No surprise here. When you're projected as a top-3 pick, you almost have to come out. Is he too slow to deal with the quicker edge rushers in the NFL? Some people think so. I'm not one of them. This guy is a manster (all respect to Dan Hampton) in the making and should be a mainstay in whatever lineup he's in. If Matthew Stafford and Sam Bradford come out, he could go to Kansas City...assuming they have a GM by the draft. Rev--talk to me about the big man!

Ralph Mancini's Take: Smith has the size, strength and agility that make him worthy of being the first offensive lineman taken off the board. The big guy has great feet that allows him to maintain balance on the move.

RB DONALD BROWN, CONNECTICUT
Connecticut RB Donald Brown announced that he will forgo his senior season in school and enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

Ross Mandel's Take: It may be East Coast bias, but I love this kid's pro prospects. I know he's not the fastest back around, but he's got quickness and runs like a pro already. The team that takes him will be getting a solid NFL running back.

Ralph Mancini's Take: Brown clearly has nothing left to prove at the collegiate level. The UCONN product isn't only big enough to run up the gut and break tackles, but he's an explosive back, who can take it all the way once he gets passed the first level. Brown has the tools to be a magnificent NFL player.

LB GERALD MCRATH, SOUTHERN MISS
Southern Miss LB Gerald McRath will forgo his senior season in college and enter the 2009 NFL Draft. At middle linebacker in the Golden Eagles' 4-3 defense, McRath led the team with 137 tackles as a junior. The next closest on the team had only 84. McRath also chipped in 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 9.5 tackles for loss.

Ross Mandel's Take: His tackle total is impressive, but he's not going to play inside in the pros. If he has a poor 40-time, he'll wish he never declared.

Ralph Mancini's Take: Although a bit undersized at 220 pounds, McGrath is masterful at reading what's in front of him and quickly attacking ball carriers by always being in the right position to make a play and taking the proper angles. McGrath could be a terrific run-stuffer behind a big pocket-pushing defensive line.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Troy

December 21 * 8:15 PM * ESPN

At 2-6 not many envisioned the Golden Eagles making a bowl in their first season under headman Larry Fedora, who brought his offensive philosophies from Oklahoma St. However, seniors like tight end Shawn Nelson made sure Southern Miss would not end their bowl streak, extending it to seven in-a-row – a Conference USA record. In addition to Nelson, junior tailback Damion Fletcher and true freshman wide out DeAndre Brown have flourished with red-shirt freshman quarterback Austin Davis learning on the job. Defensively, junior linebacker Gerald McGrath is a man among boys. The Golden Eagles have won both of their bowl games versus Sun Belt opponents and are 4-0 when they play close to home in the state of Louisiana. Troy doesn’t have nearly as much bowl experience, having joined the FBS in 2001. Under coach Larry Blakeney the Men of Troy captured their third straight Sun Belt Championship, making their second bowl appearance in that span and third all-time. Troy won the New Orleans Bowl two years ago by knocking off Rice and they are no strangers to stepping up in competition having squared up against Ohio St., Oklahoma St. and LSU this season. Defensively they are chuck-full-of playmakers, led by Terence Moore, Brandon Lang, Sherrod Martin and Boris Lee.


Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (6-6, 4-4)
Pass: Austin Davis – 2,852 yards, 21 TDs
Run: Damion Fletcher – 1,235 yards, 9 TDs
Catch: DeAndre Brown – 66-1,108-12 TDs

Troy Trojans (8-4, 6-1)
Pass: Levi Brown – 1,775 yards, 14 TDs
Run: DuJuan Harris – 1,025 yards, 11 TDs
Catch: Jerrel Jernigan – 68-803-5 TDs


Photo Credit: University of Southern Mississippi Media Relations

This Date in College Football History

Nov. 13, 1982: Having not lost a game at home since 1963, Alabama's 57-game home winning streak in Tuscaloosa comes to an end against Southern Mississippi. Golden Eagle quarterback Reggie Collier rushes for 88 yards and three touchdowns, while tailback Sam Dejarnette adds 153 yards and two touchdowns, as Southern Miss upsets No. 17 Crimson Tide 38-29.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Future Watch: DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss

By BRIAN VORNBERG

Once in a great while a fresh face arrives on the college football scene and you get that gut feeling that this player is something special. One of those players that makes the college game seem like child’s play…a player destined for great things. It appears, my friends, as though true freshman wide receiver DeAndre Brown is one of these players.

Brown, a 6'6" 220-pound giant with big time athleticism, has been on the scene for very little time thus far. He hails from the tiny town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, right on the Gulf Coast about two miles east of Biloxi. With its population of just over 17,000, Ocean Springs is not a high school football hotbed by any means. Nevertheless, Brown managed to rack up 700 yards receiving during his senior year of high school, but even more incredibly, totaled over 1,000 yards on the ground as a running back!

Though virtually unknown to many in the natural world, in the world of college football recruiting, Brown was a man amongst boys. His eye-popping catch in the back of the end zone during the 2008 Army All-American game only helped prolong people’s glances and make them wonder who this kid from Mississippi really was. The college football scouts already knew. Brown held a slew of offers from historic programs such as Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Miami. He also had offers from major players in the new age of college football like Texas Tech. Rather than doing the obvious and choosing to attend one of these prestigious universities Brown held the wild card. He chose to stay close to home and attend the University of Southern Mississippi, right in his own backyard. It may have surprised most, but anyone who has ever spoken with DeAndre or knows him probably knew all along that he would make the choice that he did.

Meeting DeAndre Brown in person would only solidify one’s belief that he is not only a special player, but a down-to-earth, good guy as well.

Being in Conference USA rather than the SEC hasn’t slowed Brown down or kept him from making noise in his true freshman year. He’s started from day one for the Golden Eagles and, although the team is struggling to find its rhythm, he certainly isn’t. Brown has been one of the most impressive receivers in the NCAA this year and already has a 200-yard receiving game to his credit. He has tallied 46 receptions for 747 yards and is tied for sixth in the nation with nine touchdown receptions. Remember, he’s only a freshman. This could get scary, folks. If you’re ever lucky enough to get the opportunity to see Brown play in person, please do. You won’t regret it.

See you on Sundays, DeAndre....

Photo Credit: King Photography

Fletcher runs for 152 yards, 3 TDs to help Southern Miss beat Marshall

By JOHN RABY
AP Sports Writer

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Damion Fletcher ran for 152 yards and three touchdowns to lead Southern Miss to a 33-24 victory over Marshall on Sunday night.

Southern Miss (4-3, 3-1 Conference USA) jumped ahead 20-0 and withstood a second-half rally by Marshall to move into a tie for first place with East Carolina in the East Division.

Marshall (0-7, 0-3) once was virtually unbeatable at home, but has lost three games in a season at Joan C. Edwards Stadium for the second time in three years. The Thundering Herd are on pace for their worst season since going 1-10 in 1979. Marshall hasn't had a winless season since 1968.

Justin Estes kicked field goals on consecutive drives to put Southern Miss ahead 26-10 midway through the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles punted on their next three possessions and Marshall drew closer.

Darius Marshall's 8-yard TD run capped a 79-yard drive and Bernard Morris found Darius Passmore with a 47-yard TD toss that pulled Marshall to 26-24 midway through the fourth.

Marshall's Maurice Kitchens was called for pass interference that kept alive a drive that ended with Fletcher's 2-yard TD run with a minute left in the game.

Fletcher, who rushed for 151 yards against Marshall as a freshman a year ago, had another big game against one of the nation's worst defenses. Southern Miss started drives in Marshall territory on both of its first-quarter TDs, runs of 36 and 2 yards by Fletcher.

Golden Eagles quarterback Stephen Reaves was effective in his third game since taking over for injured starter Jeremy Young. Reaves completed 23 of 30 passes for 310 yards.

After Southern Miss' Justin Wilson made his first career interception in the end zone in the first quarter, Reaves found Torris Magee at the Southern Miss 45 and Magee raced the rest of the way for an 85-yard score and a 20-0 lead. It was the longest TD pass in Southern Miss history, breaking the mark of 83 yards from Andrew Anderson to Andrew Mott against Louisville in 1985.

Morris went 20-of-38 for 309 yards and two scores. He also threw three interceptions.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Southern Mississippi Media Relations