OWINGS MILLS — The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms on a rookie free agent deal with former University of North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo after he went undrafted Monday in the NFL supplemental draft.
McAdoo is regarded as an intriguing, albeit a somewhat raw prospect.
At 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, the rangy, athletic pass rusher projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end and has the frame to bulk up and add additional pounds.
"The first thing I bring to the table is passion about the game," McAdoo said in a telephone interview prior to the supplemental draft. "I’m very confident. I love the game of football. I’m somebody who works hard and goes hard every down. I can bring a lot to whatever team decides to pick me on Monday.
"I like both positions. I like rushing the passer. It really doesn’t matter. I just want to play football wherever they put me."
McAdoo recorded 29 tackles, 10 for losses and 3 1/2 sacks in two years while playing in a rotation.
McAdoo was ruled ineligible last season due to academic fraud and sued the university and the NCAA seeking damages, asserting that he was deprived of the opportunity to play and that the NCAA based its decision on incorrect factual information.
His request for an injunction was ultimately denied, though.
"Last year, it was just hard because just waking up every day knowing you can’t play the game that you love the most," McAdoo said. "I’m not going to lie, it hurt me a lot."
According to reports, McAdoo was found guilty by the North Carolina student honor court of submitting a paper that didn’t properly credit someone else’s work.
"I’m not a bad person," McAdoo said. "I love the game of football. The people that I hung out with and associated with they assumed I was just like them other guys.
"It was guilt by association. I’m a good guy. They can check my background and know that I don’t have any issues off the field. They just have to get to know me."
Heading into his junior season, McAdoo was named the defensive Most Valuable Player of the spring game with four sacks and an interception.
As a sophomore, he played in every game and recorded 20 tackles, seven for losses and one sack.
As a freshman McAdoo had nine tackles, three tackle for losses and 2 1/2 sacks.
McAdoo runs the 40-yard dash in the 4.6 to 4.7 range.
In high school, he was ranked as one of the top 50 defensive ends in the nation as he registered 60 tackles, 12 for losses and five sacks as a senior with 13 sacks as a junior.
McAdoo said it ‘s encouraging for him to see other former North Carolina players who lost their eligibility due to NCAA rule violations, including New York Giants second-round defensive tackle Marvin Austin, Cleveland Browns second-round wide receiver Greg Little and St. Louis Rams first-round defensive end Robert Quinn, have found a home in the NFL.
"Yes, it gives me a lot of confidence," McAdoo said. "I talk to those guys like every day they tell me and preach to me, ‘Mike, you’ll be here one day, you can fit in as well as any other guys.’"
