Santaluces grad and ex-UM linebacker and captain Zach McCloud inks undrafted-free-agent deal with Minnesota Vikings
After a six-year career at Miami, Zach McCloud is headed to the NFL.
The former Hurricanes captain and Santaluces High alumnus was signed by the Minnesota Vikings after the NFL draft on Saturday.
McCloud, who will look to be the fourth Santaluces alum to play in the NFL (joining NT Vince Wilfork and LBs Sherrod Coates and Carlos Jenkins), played a mix of defensive end and linebacker for the Hurricanes. He said he wants to be versatile so he can make an NFL roster.
“Most teams seem to like me as an outside linebacker, like a rush type,” McCloud said at UM’s Pro Day on March 30. “Also can drop into coverage … in 3-4 schemes. But honestly, I’ll do whatever. If they want me on special teams, I’ll be out there knocking people’s heads off doing special teams. I just want to play the game.”
McCloud had 28 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks while playing on Miami’s defensive line last season. In six seasons in Coral Gables, he had making 193 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Since the season ended, he said he has worked toward getting his body back in shape to be a linebacker in the NFL.
“I had to get my body fat percentage back down because if you’re gaining weight that fast, it’s not going to be all muscle unless you’re cheating. I’m not doing none of that,” McCloud said. “But I was eating a lot of big carbs, big protein, so since then I’ve just lost a few pounds and bac down to 246 instead of being 255, 250.”
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