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USF's McKenzie Being Noticed

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: January 24, 2009

MOBILE, Ala. - Joe Fitzgerald has been coaching NFL linebackers for 15 years. He has seen a lot of them rise and fall during that time. He believes he sees one on the rise when he looks at USF linebacker Tyrone McKenzie.

McKenzie has spent his week here at the Senior Bowl working under the tutelage of Fitzgerald and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals staff, and it's safe to say he has made a positive impression.

"Right out of the gate, on Sunday and then again on Monday in the meeting rooms, he was standing out," Fitzgerald said. "He was asking questions and clearly picking up what we were talking about right away.

"And that's nice, but a lot of times guys aren't able to transfer that onto the field. Not him. He's transferred it very well. I mean, I'm really pleased with what I see from him."

McKenzie should be pleased with Fitzgerald's assessment. He came here, after all, to prove he can stand out among the best, and in a matter of days he appears to have done that.

"I've done a terrific job so far," McKenzie said of his attempt to impress coaches and scouts. "I think I've shown everybody here that I can play with anybody."

The goal now, of course, is to play well and stand out in the game tonight. McKenzie could struggle there, though, and still leave the Senior Bowl in a better position than when he got here.

Though they chart the game as well, most NFL scouts look most closely at the Senior Bowl's daily workouts. That's where they get a feel for a player's work ethic and skill set. and as Fitzgerald pointed out, McKenzie's has impressed.

"He's a great kid to coach," said Fitzgerald, who is only the second linebackers coach to have four of his players named to the Pro Bowl in the same season.

That happened in 2006 when Fitzgerald, then with the Ravens, helped send Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas to the Pro Bowl. No one is predicting a Pro Bowl future for McKenzie, but an NFL future seems likely.

"From what I see right now, I like his chances," Fitzgerald said of McKenzie, an outside linebacker who is projected to be picked in the third or fourth round.

That projection may not sit well with McKenzie. Like a lot of young players, he has loftier goals.

"I want to show people that I'm the best linebacker in the draft this year," he said.

He may have to settle for being the best Fitzgerald has seen this week. It's not a bad place to start.

"He's going to be one of those guys where special teams are going to be big for him," Fitzgerald said. "He's got the qualities you need to make a football team to start with on special teams."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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