After Further Review: Darren McFadden speaks
Quotes from the newest Oakland Raider
April 26, 2008
By Eric “Ace” Strauss, Raiderfans.net Staff Columnist
Running back Darren McFadden said he intends to become the playmaker the Raiders told him they need.
NEW YORK — Darren McFadden, the Raiders’ top pick and fourth overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, was one of six players present at the event here at Radio City Music Hall.
Here’s some of what he had to say:
• “It feels great to be a Raider. I’m going to help out the offense a whole lot.”
• “The time I talk to the Raiders coaching staff, they tell me they’re missing a playmaker from their offense, and I feel I can add to that with my big-play ability.”
• “I think I’ll fit in great with (Raiders fans). Like the SEC fans, Arkansas fans, we have fans that are very wild in Arkansas. And it’s something I’m going to enjoy a whole lot.”
• “I just tell (fans), ‘Go Raider Nation,’ I’m very happy to be there.”
• “Two young guys in the backfield, a guy like
JaMarcus Russell and me, it will be a great thing back there.”
• “I don’t feel like (any)one can put more pressure on me than I put on myself.”
• “I’m looking very forward to (competing in the AFC West). I was in the SEC, and there’s a lot of competition in the SEC, so that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
And a little more about the man called D-Mac, courtesy of the NFL’s PR department:
• McFadden measures 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds. Born Aug. 27, 1987, he’ll be 21 years old when the 2008 NFL season starts.
• McFadden, who resides in Little Rock and attended Pulaski Oak Grove High School in that city, talked about buying homes for his mother and father at the draft news conference. He’s the son of Mini Muhammad and Graylon McFadden.
• As a freshman in 2005, McFadden — who wore No. 5 for the Razorbacks — was named SEC Freshman of the Year by the Associated Press, a consensus All-SEC first-teamer, an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly and was voted team MVP by the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
• The next season, McFadden won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back, and was a Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year finalist. was named a first-team All-American by seven organizations, including the Associated Press. He was also All-SEC and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
• In his final season at Arkansas, McFadden was a consensus All-American and unanimous All-SEC player. He won the Doak Walker Award again — one of only two players ever to win it twice — and finished second in the Heisman voting for the second straight year. Two organizations named him National Player of the Year and he repeated as the SEC coaches’ choice for conference Offensive Player of the Year.
• McFadden holds Arkansas’ single-season and career records for carries and rushing yards. He finished second in career touchdowns and holds the SEC’s single-season and school’s single-game records for all-purpose yards. He averaged more than 150 all-purpose yards per game for his career.
• He teamed with fellow draft prospect Felix Jones — chosen 22nd overall by the Dallas Cowboys — to help former coach Houston Nutt’s offense lead the nation in rushing yards in 2007. Both runners broke the 1,000-yard mark in 2006 and 2007.
Plus, a few draft guides’ ratings:
• Ourlads’ Scouting Service: 9.70, a “Round 1” grade, first among running backs and the third overall ranking. Won the “Cream of the Crop” among running backs in the annual “Laddies.”
• The Sporting News: 8.4, a “potential Pro Bowl player” grade, first among running backs and the fourth overall ranking.
• Lindy’s: 8.5, a “1st Round” grade, first among running backs and the fourth overall ranking.
• Pro Football Draft Guide: First among running backs. McFadden was the guide’s cover boy, as well.
• Pro Football Weekly: 6.40, a dissenting “quality NFL player” grade, second among running backs and the ninth overall ranking.
Finally, the Raiders’ 2007 running-back rushing leaders:
1.
Justin Fargas, 222 carries for 1,009 yards, a 4.5-yard average and 4 touchdowns
2. LaMont Jordan, 144 carries for 549 yards, a 3.8-yard average and 3 touchdowns
3. Dominic Rhodes, 75 carries for 302 yards, a 4.0-yard average and 1 touchdown
4. Justin Griffith, 7 carries for 27 yards, a 3.9-yard average and 0 touchdowns
(No other running backs carried the ball for Oakland last season.)