Anytime you can get a two-time All-American, any school should be interested, and in this case for the Washington Huskies who require offensive line reinforcements, junior college All-American Maximus McCree is a welcome addition.
Coach Jedd Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll have been on the prowl for offensive line help this offseason and have had mixed success, despite that there is still plenty of optimism that the team can find the right players to bolster some of the weak spots.
McCree has had a winding road that has brought him to an interest from the Huskies, he spent the first two years of his career with Iowa Central Community College before transferring up to the Division I level and Big Ten with Maryland. After appearing in just two games for the Terrapins, McCree decided to return to Iowa Central where he would continue to star.
He will now have an opportunity to return the pinnacle of college football and make a bigger impact this time.
Judging how a player will transition from the JUCO level to the Big Ten is certainly a challenge. The level of competition will be a major adjustment for McCree, but it’s encouraging that he at least has some experience at this level.
McCree will likely slot in as backup tackle or as swing player who can fill a number of roles for the team depending on where the final needs arise.
As stated, the junior college level is not the best judge of what a player looks like, but McCree has shown that he can be an above average pass protector.
He is very agile and has a lightning quick first step that allows him to easily mirror rushers on the outside track. With good hip flexibility and a strong base, McCree’s anchor is impressive and he can impede the progress of rushers quickly. He was rarely challenged in terms of being forced to recover and rediscover his anchor during reps, so this will be an adjustment point against stronger competition.
McCree is a mixed bag as run blocker but there is still quite a bit to get excited about. With excellent movement skills and quick feet, McCree moves well on screens and when asked to advance into the second level. This is one of the reasons that a move to guard could be in the cards if his next coaching staff doesn’t feel he can stick at tackle.
On zone runs, McCree could be a major asset for the reasons listed, pulling across the formation from the guard position could make the most use of his strengths.
Picking out struggles for a player who dominates at a lower level can be a bit challenging, but it’s clear the McCree doesn’t always generate a large amount of push, and this may be an issue when he gets to the DI level. Continuing to add strength to his frame will be vital.
McCree was last listed at 290 pounds and it’s unclear where he’s at weight-wise right now, but adding weight will be important if he isn’t above or around the critical 300-pound mark. If adding strength becomes a goal for him, the weight addition will go hand in hand. It should be noted that in McCree’s most recent film, his frame did not look to be a major concern.
For the Huskies, bodies in the offensive line room is the team’s biggest need. McCree offers high-floor depth for a team that is facing the prospect of trotting out wildly inexperienced players in week one.
McCree could at the very least give the coaching staff more options to explore or push incumbent players to new heights.