Rolando McClain

Rolando McClain

Acknowledging some Raiders fans at a game in Denver in October, 2010.
No. 55     Oakland Raiders
Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: July 14, 1989 (1989-07-14)
Place of birth: Decatur, Alabama
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
College: Alabama
NFL Draft: 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8
Debuted in 2010 for the Oakland Raiders
Career history
Oakland Raiders (2010–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (2009) First-team All-SEC (2008, 2009) Butkus Award (2009) Lambert Award (2009) SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2009) SEC Championship (2009) BCS National Championship (2010)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Tackles	184
Sacks	5.5
Interceptions	1
Stats at NFL.com

Rolando Marquise McClain (born July 14, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Raiders eighth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama. He registered 274 tackles during his three-year career with 29.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and five interceptions. During his junior season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2009 he received the Butkus Award, was voted to the AP All-America first-team, and helped lead the Tide to an undefeated 14-0 season culminating in a victory in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.

Early years

McClain attended Decatur High School, where he played linebacker and tight end. As a senior he was a Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team selection, Parade All-American, and was selected to play in the first Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In high school, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, though recent tests seemed to indicate that was a misdiagnosis.

College career

Freshman year

As a true freshman in 2007 McClain started 8 of 13 games for the Crimson Tide, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with 75. He also recorded two interceptions and a sack and was a freshmen All-Southeastern Conference selection.

Sophomore year

As a sophomore in 2008 McClain recorded 95 tackles, three sacks, and an interception, earning Associated Press Third-team All-American honors. He was also a First-team All-SEC selection by the AP, Sporting News, league coaches and Phil Steele.

Junior year

For the 2009 season, Rolando had 105 total tackles including 14.5 tackles for loss. He also has 4 sacks, 14 QB hurries, 2 interceptions, 3 passes broken up, and a forced fumble. He was named FWAA National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Kentucky in early October. Later that month, he was named mid-season All-American by Sporting News. Following the SEC Championship Game, Rolando was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and named First-team All-SEC.

On December 7, 2009, McClain was announced as the winner of the 2009 Lambert Award for the best collegiate linebacker. He is the first Alabama linebacker to win the Lambert Award since its inception in 1991. A day later, he was also awarded the 2009 Dick Butkus Award, being only the second Crimson Tide player to do so (along with Derrick Thomas in 1988). Rolando was also named 1st team All-American by Walter Camp, unanimous selection by the Associated Press, and AFCA.

On January 11, 2010, several days after winning the BCS National Championship, McClain decided to forgo his senior year at Alabama and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

Professional career

2010 NFL Draft

On April 22, 2010, McClain was drafted by the Oakland Raiders 8th overall in the first round of the draft. He was the highest drafted Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker since Keith McCants went 4th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1990 NFL Draft.

Pre-draft measureables

Ht	Wt	Arm length	Hand size	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 3 3⁄8 in	249 lb	33 in	9 3⁄8 in	4.68 s	1.62 s	2.72 s	4.38 s	7.16 s	35 in	9 ft 1 in	24 rep	16
Measurables and BP from NFL Combine, all others from Alabama Pro Day

Oakland Raiders

McClain signed his contract with the Raiders on July 28, 2010, in time to make the first day of training camp. The contract is estimated to be for $40 million over 5 years.

In week 2 of the 2010 season against the St. Louis Rams, McClain body slammed Danny Amendola, which drew an "unnecessary roughness" call and eventually a $5,000 fine by the NFL. He recorded his first career sack in week 7 against Kyle Orton of the Denver Broncos and his first career interception in week 12 against Chad Henne of the Miami Dolphins.

McClain finished his first season with 85 tackles, 0.5 sacks, an interception, and 6 passes defended.

Personal

McClain's cousin Le'Ron McClain plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

On January 27, 2011, a vehicle being driven by Rolando McClain was shot at while McClain was in his hometown of Decatur, Alabama. No one was hurt and police are unsure if the shooter knew that the car belonged to McClain. On December 1, 2011, McClain was arrested by Decatur Police Department and charged with third-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm inside the city limits, all of which are misdemeanors for a shooting incident that occurred the night before.

External links

• Oakland Raiders bio
• Alabama Crimson Tide bio
• NFL combine profile
• ESPN bio