Oakland Raiders 2008 Draft - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Hostile · 04-07-2008

1st round pick #4... Darren McFadden RB Arkansas

Overview

Darren McFadden, a two-time Heisman runner-up, is regarded as one of the finest players in college football in recent years and one of the best to come out of the University of Arkansas.

The two-time Doak Walker Award winner shattered numerous school and Southeastern Conference records during his three seasons at Arkansas, establishing himself as one of the league's elite all-time backs -- Herschel Walker of Georgia, Bo Jackson of Auburn and Emmitt Smith of Florida.

McFadden was often utilized as the quarterback in the "Wildcat" formation, dominating defenses with his running and passing. He shared the backfield with another 1,000-yard rusher and first-team All-American kick returner Felix Jones, as the duo formed the most potent running back tandem in the nation, helping the Razorbacks average 286.54 yards per game on the ground in 2007.

In 38 games as a Razorback, McFadden rushed for over 100 yards 22 times. By winning the Doak Walker Award in both 2006 and '07, he became just the third Arkansas player to ever garner national award recognition in the 112 years of the program, joining Bud Brooks (1954 Outland Trophy) and Loyd Phillips (1966 Outland Trophy).

By gaining 1,113 yards rushing in 2005, 1,647 in '06 and a school-record 1,830 yards in '07, McFadden joined Georgia's Herschel Walker (1980-82) as the only players in Southeastern Conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore and junior. He is also the second UA player to rush for 1,000 yards three times, joining Ben

Cowins (1976-78). McFadden is the first to do it in his first three seasons.

At Pulaski Oak Grove High School, McFadden became the only player from the state of Arkansas to be named to the Parade All-American team in 2004. The two-time All-State, All-Area and All-South choice was chosen the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and was also selected to that newspaper's All-Arkansas squad.

McFadden was ranked as the No. 23 prospect in the nation and the top prospect in Arkansas by Rivals.com. The organization also rated him as a five-star prospect and the third-best athlete in the country. Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report rated him as the eighth-best running back in the nation. He was ranked 21st on the Mobile Register's Super Southeast 120 listing. He was also listed 21st in The Dallas Morning News Top 100. He was among the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 and participated in the 2005 Arkansas High School All-Star Game.

McFadden was tabbed as the Class 4A-Southeast Conference's Outstanding Back, as he racked up 1,965 yards and 27 touchdowns on 184 carries as a senior. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry and scored three or more rushing touchdowns in six games during his final campaign. He made three receptions for 67 yards and one score. He completed 6-of-15 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as a quarterback. He also returned nine punts for 370 yards and three touchdowns.

As a junior, McFadden rushed for a school-record 2,027 yards and 19 touchdowns on 204 carries. He averaged 9.9 yards per attempt, leading his squad to an 8-4 record and second-place finish in the Class 5-AAA Conference. He hauled in nine passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. He also earned 103 yards on 12 punt returns. In his sophomore campaign, he rushed for 859 yards and 13 touchdowns on 109 carries. He hauled in 12 receptions for 333 yards and five scores. He also returned 10 punts for 82 yards and 14 kickoffs for 372 yards.

McFadden totaled 4,871 yards rushing on 497 attempts in his prep career and averaged 9.8 yards per carry. In addition to football, he was a standout in baseball and track and field in high school. He was also recruited by a host of other schools including Tennessee, Alabama, Nebraska, Auburn and Iowa, but decided to enroll at Arkansas after attending Houston Nutt's Football Camp as a junior.

McFadden's arrival at Arkansas was met with much fanfare and he certainly did not disappoint, setting school freshman rushing records with 1,113 yards and 11 scores on 176 carries (6.3-yard average) in 2005. He caught 14 passes for 52 yards, returned 12 kickoffs for 348 yards (29-yard avg) and averaged 137.5 all-purpose yards per game.

He earned All-American honorable mention from Pro Football Weekly and first-team fresh-man All-American accolades from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), College Football News, ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and The Sporting News. He was also named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year by the Associated Press and the league's coaches.

As a sophomore, McFadden's rushing yardage total of 1,647 on 284 attempts (5.8-yard average) was more than that of 54 of the 119 Division I-A teams (45.4%), while his 14 rushing touchdowns were better than 43 teams nationally (36.1%). The consensus All-American was the recipient of the Doak Walker Award and finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He also had 11 receptions for 149 yards (13.5-yard average) and a score while completing 7-of-9 passes (77.8%) for 69 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 26.2 yards with a score on ten kickoff returns and 147 all-purpose yards, scoring 98 points. He also rushed for over 100 yards eight times.

McFadden had an up-and-down junior campaign, but still garnered consensus All-American honors while again winning the Doak Walker Award and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race. He gained over 100 yards rushing 10 times, as he broke his own school record with 1,830 yards and 16 touchdowns on 325 rushes (5.6-yard average). However, he did fumble the ball 15 times, with the opposition recovering five of them. He had 21 catches for 164 yards (7.8-yard average) and a score, hit on 6-of-11 throws (54.5%) for 123 yards and four touchdowns, scoring 102 points. He finished the season with 102 points scored and gained 2,310 all-purpose yards, an average of 177.69 yards per game.

In 38 games at Arkansas, McFadden carried 785 times for 4,590 yards (5.85-yard average) and 41 touchdowns. He grabbed 46 passes for 365 yards (7.9 avg) and two scores, as he also returned 38 kickoffs for 926 yards (24.4 avg) and a touchdown. He completed 14-of-22 passes (63.6%) for 205 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception while recording five solo tackles with a fumble recovery.

McFadden totaled 268 points with 44 overall touchdowns and amassed 5,881 all-purpose yards (154.76 yards per game). He ran for 100 or more yards in 22 games, but had 23 fumbles, losing nine.

100... Tyvon Branch CB Uconn

125... Arman Shields WR Richmond

169... Trevor Scott DE Buffalo

226... Chaz Schilens WR San Diego State

CrazyMonster · 04-26-2008

He is going to be a Raider in about 5 mins...

The30YardSlant · 04-26-2008

Hopefully....

elcocinero · 04-26-2008

Jerry looks to be very nervous watching this pick

NextGenBoys · 04-26-2008

Good let him. We dont need him. We HAVE a Pro Bowl running back. No need to draft another this high.

BEMYDADJERRY · 04-26-2008

thank god it's over......a whole year about this guy.......

Xy_Oldone · 04-26-2008

Jerry is drinking water and chatting. Does not look nervous to me. Looks like he is not even interested in these first few picks

Wade looks asleep. lol

Juke99 · 04-26-2008

Darren McFadden

Best RB to enter the draft in the past two decades. Is a big explosive athlete, who showed excellent quicks & moves in the hole. Breaks secured tackles and finishes his runs. Judges distances well & showed real talent at the corner. Good backside vision & the ability to take it to the house. Can evaporate the pursuit angle with his great burst. Excellent hands & was extremely dangerous in space. A difference maker in every sense of the word.

Biography:
Marino's Take: The Running Backs

2006: McFadden rushed for a school-record 1,647 yards on 284 carries. His season output marked the fifth-best rushing season in SEC history. McFadden led the SEC and ranked 10th in the nation averaging 117.6 yards per game rushing. He found the end zone 16 times racking up 14 rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown and one kickoff return score. He earned a rushing touchdown in nine of 14 games in 2006. In addition, he passed for three touchdowns out of the “Wildcat” formation. He finished the season 7-of-9 passing for 69 yards and three touchdowns. He hauled in 11 catches for 149 yards, including a career-long 70-yard touchdown reception. He returned 10 kickoffs for 262 yards and scored his first career kickoff return touchdown on a 92-yard run against Mississippi State. McFadden ranked first in the SEC and sixth in the nation with 147.0 all-purpose yards per game. He shattered the UA record for all-purpose yards in a season by 454 yards with his total of 2,058.

2005: He shattered the UA freshman record with 1,113 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 176 carries. The previous school record of 668 yards was set by Cedric Cobbs in 1999. He was fourth in the SEC and 31st in the nation in rushing. His rushing average was the third-best by a freshman in the country. In SEC play, he was third in the league with 103.8 yards per game. He tied for eighth in the league in scoring at 6.2 points per game. He was third among league players in touchdowns. He had at least one touchdown in seven of 11 games and scored multiple touchdowns four times. He was second in the SEC and 28th nationally with 137.5 all-purpose yards per game. He had 1,513 total yards with 1,113 rushing, 348 on 12 kickoff returns (29.0) and 52 on 14 receptions (3.7).

High School: He racked up 4,871 yards rushing on 497 attempts in his prep career and averaged 9.8 yards per carry for Coach John Mayes. He rushed for 1,965 yards and 27 touchdowns on 184 carries as a senior. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry and scored three or more rushing touchdowns in six games during his senior season. He made three receptions for 67 yards and one score. He completed six-of-15 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as a quarterback. He also returned nine punts for 370 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior, he rushed for a school-record 2,027 yards and 19 touchdowns on 204 carries. He averaged 9.9 yards per tote as a junior leading his squad to an 8-4 record and second-place finish in the 5-AAA Conference. He hauled in nine passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. He also earned 103 yards on 12 punt returns. In his sophomore campaign, he rushed for 859 yards and 13 touchdowns on 109 carries. He hauled in 12 receptions for 333 yards and five scores. He also returned 10 punts for 82 yards and 14 kickoffs for 372 yards. In the summer of 2004, he was named as the most valuable player of the Houston Nutt Football Camp. In addition to football, he was a standout in baseball and track and field in high school. He owned a vertical jump of 32 inches in high school. He was also recruited by a host of other schools including Tennessee, Alabama, Nebraska, Auburn and Iowa.

Personal: Born Aug. 2