Three of the most record-setting Middle Tennessee football players in history - Dwone Hicks, Tyrone Calico and ReShard Lee - will be showcased this weekend as they look to continue their football careers to the next level with the NFL draft.
Dwone Hicks, who ran a 4.59 40-yard dash, had a slow start to last season because of a knee injury and missed two games. However, Hicks picked up where he left off and was still able to run for more than 1,000 yards for the third straight season. Hicks was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference second team. Hicks holds the school record of 53 touchdowns. He is also in the top 10 in many other Blue Raider records.
According to www.cbssports-line.com, Hicks "has a stout frame with good vision and the speed to break tackles, has the acceleration to create separation, showing a short burst through the holes." He also "has just marginal explosion when accelerating around the corner, has reliable hands, but looks stiff trying to adjust to the catch and lets too many passes absorb into his body."
The Sporting News magazine has Hicks being picked in the fifth round.
Wide receiver Tyrone Calico was known as a leader for MT that performed with his actions, not words. Last season, Calico was named to the All-SBC first team by leading the Blue Raiders with 45 catches and 606 yards and four touchdowns. Calico was a four-year starter and caught 194 catches, gaining 2,636 yards with 12 touchdowns.
Calico is second behind Kendall Newsom (1998-2001) in career receptions and yards in MT history. Newsom, who had 238 catches for 3,074 yards during his four-year career, was picked in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars at last year's draft.
However, Newsom was cut in training camp, and is not on an NFL team at this time.
According to www.CBSSports-line.com, some of Calico's strong points include "well-proportioned with a rare-sized frame, very long arms, solid chest and shoulders and good definition in his legs and calves."
Some of the weak points mentioned by www.CBSSportsline.com include, "good agility, but he appears a little stiff in his hips."
SI.com has Calico being picked in the first round by the AFC champions the Oakland Raiders with the 31st selection.
"Tyrone Calico has the chance to be the highest drafted kid to ever come out of here," said Middle Tennessee head football coach Andy McCollum.
The highest a former MT player has been selected was in the third round, twice, with quarterback Jonathan Quinn in 1998 by the Jacksonville Jaguars and linebacker Mike Caldwell in 1993 by the Cleveland Browns.
MT running back ReShard Lee decided to leave school after his junior year after playing only two seasons. However, teamed with Hicks, they became one of the best running back duos in the country. Lee showed last season that he could do it all-run, pass and return kicks and was named to the All-SBC second-team. Lee finished second on the team in rushing with 642 yards and six touchdowns.
According to Cbssportsline.com, some of his positives include being a "dangerous open field runner with a muscular upper body and strong legs."
On the other side, some of his negatives are he remains "untested as a pass catcher, and tends to let the ball absorb into his body rather than extend."
"It's great for our program to have three, and there may be a couple more kids to get opportunities, too, but to have three guys drafted, if that works out, then that's what we want to do as far as recruting, as far as bringing guys in here with that type of potential. That everybody across America sees Middle Tennessee, and that what we will continue doing is get those types of caliber players, and that type of character part of our program," McCollum said.
The NFL draft takes place this weekend with coverage on ESPN beginning on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Be the first to comment on this article!