UM football standout Brandon McGee takes his talents to the NFL

Brandon McGee
Brandon McGee
Brandon McGee

UM football standout Brandon McGee takes his talents to the NFL

UM Hurricane cornerback Brandon McGee wore No. 2l during his college career. He recently was drafted in the N F L Draft in the 5th Round by the St. Louis Rams, joining a long list of former UM defensive standouts who have taken their talents to the National Football League.

By Charles Moseley

     Needless to say Brandon McGee has come a long way since he was a six years old playing flag football in the Lauderdale Lakes Little League. Fast forward 16 years. Today, McGee stands at five feet and 11 inches tall and he weighs a solid 193 lbs., and has been timed at an impressive 4.37 seconds in the 40 yard dash.

You can also add college graduate to McGee’s list of accomplishments. After completing a four year stint on the University of Miami football team. McGee was selected in the 5th round, by the St. Louis Rams, making him the 149th player selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

McGee compiled quite an impressive resume as a local high school student athlete at Plantation High School. He played quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back for the Colonels.

McGee earned All-American honors as a high school junior and was rated as the 10th best cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com. He also was ranked as the No. 92 top prospect in the country. He also was named first team All-Broward County by the Miami Herald and played in the U.S. Army All American Bowl.

After being highly recruited by a number of major college football programs McGee opted to play at the University of Miami under former Coach Randy Shannon. Following McGee’s sophomore season, Shannon was replaced by Coach Al Golden as UM’s head football coach.

McGee compiled a sterling career at UM. As a freshman McGee played in 10 games for the Hurricanes. As a sophomore he also played in 10 games, starting against the Florida A & M Rattlers. In his junior year he started every game.  He had a season high eight tackles in the season opener against Maryland, recorded six tackles and a sack against the University of North Carolina, and snagged his first career interception in the University of South Florida contest. During his senior year season McGee continued to play a major role on the Hurricane’s defensive squad. He finished with a team high seven pass breakups. He also received All ACC academic honors while being recognized for the Captain’s Award and Plumer Award for Leadership, Motivation and Spirit at the team’s End of Season Banquet.

Brandon, 22 is the youngest of four siblings in the McGee family which includes his two older brothers Marcus, 29 and Quincy, 35, and older sister Latoya, 36.

McGee agreed to share a few thoughts about himself and his athletic career recently with the Westside Gazette Newspaper.

    WG:  When did you become involved in organized athletics?

    McGee: “Our entire family played sports. They played basketball and football including my dad. My older brothers were doing it. So it was kind of like a family tradition. Growing up I played football and basketball up until my sophomore year in high school when I decided to give up basketball to focus entirely on football.”

    WG: What would you consider the biggest moment of your high school athletic career?

    McGee:  I think it was being named the starting quarterback my sophomore year on varsity. I had played wide receiver and coach just came and told me that they wanted to go in a different direction and start me at quarterback so that had to be the highlight of my high school career with me just taking the reins. My senior year I played quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back.

    WG: What would you say was the highlight of your athletic career at the University of Miami?

    McGee: I would have to say that would be during my senior year. Coach Golden and the new staff came in at the end of my junior year but my senior year it was being named team captain. That was a big honor for me simply because all my hard work had paid off. That would have to be among my biggest accomplishments per se my college career.”

    WG: You’ve faced some adversity in your life having lost your mother Hilda to cancer and also having to deal with your dad Curtis being diagnosed with throat cancer when you were just a young boy. How were you able to deal with such a tough situation?

    McGee: “My biggest challenge has been seeing both my parents battle with cancer. Loving my mother to cancer I think those were the two hardest situations that I’ve had to overcome. I think I just relied on family and my closest friends to kind of help me through those situations.”

    WG: Who would you say has had the biggest impact in your life as far as shaping your athletic career?

    McGee: “It probably would have to be my dad’s friend Mr. Lou Taylor who was a former quarterback at Piper High.  He was the guy who groomed me actually to play the quarterback position along with my best friend Jackie Wilson who is now the starting quarterback at Bethune Cookman University. All through high school I continued to work with him. He taught me the basics of quarterbacking. I think with-out that I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”

 

About Carma Henry 24481 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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