McKeon says, they changed the defense this year

[huskerhaze]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...chool-headlines

 

Keeping up with ... Naperville North's Corey McKeon

ChicagoSports.com follows local high school athletes who have kept up their game after graduation

 

By Steve Reaven

Special to ChicagoSports.com

 

December 10, 2007, 2:21 PM CST

 

This wasn't how Corey McKeon envisioned his college football career wrapping up.

 

This December was supposed to be spent with his Nebraska teammates preparing for a bowl game. But a 5-7 final record in 2007, which led to the firing of head coach Bill Callahan, wasn't good enough to qualify for a bowl game, forcing McKeon, a former Tribune All-State linebacker from Naperville North, to begin preparing for April's NFL Draft a month earlier than he wanted.

 

"It's unfortunate but I gave it my all and so did all of my teammates," said McKeon, who started at linebacker for the Cornhuskers in each of his last three seasons. "As much as I'd like to be playing, I'm fortunate to have a chance to play at the next level."

 

To get to that next level, McKeon will have to perform well in a series of workouts, tests and at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. And though his teammates won't be with him, a warm bowl trip does await, as he's been chosen to compete in the Hula Bowl in Honolulu Jan. 12, a postseason all-star showcase for NFL scouts.

 

"It will be a lot of fun to play with some of the guys you've played against during your career," McKeon said. "It's like a vacation with a little work mixed in. I'm fortunate to be playing there because it gets some scouts watching me -- it's a good way to continue on."

 

A 2007 bowl trip looked to be a certainty in early October after the Huskers had gotten off to a promising 4-1 start. Nebraska dropped six of its last seven games, including two embarrassing losses to Kansas and Colorado in which the Cornhuskers allow a combined 141 points.

 

The 6-1, 225-pound McKeon was projected before his senior seeason by several scouting services as anywhere between a second- and fourth-round pick. The Huskers' defensive troubles probably didn't help his standing but he has more than enough time to make a positive impression.

 

"I go out to New Jersey on Sunday for a week to start my workout regimen through the agency I signed with," said McKeon, who has signed on with Brian Mackler of New York-based Sportstars, Inc. "I'll be home for the holidays but then start back up again."

 

As disappointing as the 2007 season was on a team level, McKeon is proud of what he accomplished individually in his five years in Lincoln. In 10 starts this fall, McKeon finished third on the squad with 73 tackles, in addition to recording a sack and an interception and breaking up six passes.

 

He injured the AC joint in his shoulder in Sept. against Ball State, an injury that hindered him the rest of the year.

 

"I definitely didn't play as well as a senior as I would have liked and I wasn't satisfied with it at all," McKeon said. "They changed the defense on us this year and we maybe got overworked a little in the spring and summer. Everyone had a lot invested in this season and as we started to falter, guys kind of caved in a little."

 

McKeon started all 25 of Nebraska's games in 2005-06 after a redshirt year in 2003 and mostly special teams duty the following fall.

 

In 2006, he was third on the team in tackles with 69 and had his best statistical season in 2005 as a redshirt sophomore when he paced the team with 98 tackles, in addition to notching seven sacks, three interceptions and double-digit tackle games. He was a second-team all-Big 12 pick that year, in addition to being named a sophomore all-American by Collegefootballnews.com. He was on the Butkus Award watch list the following fall and was on the watch list the last two summers for the Bednarik Award, which goes each year to the nation's best Division I college defender.

 

"It was a great experience being here for these five years," McKeon said. "The tradition here is so special and the expectations are really high. The fans love you one minute and hate you the next."

 

Despite Nebraska's subpar season, the McKeon family did get to celebrate one championship this year. McKeon's father, Larry, is the longtime head football coach at Naperville North, which won the Class 8A state title Nov. 24 in Champaign by drubbing DuPage Valley Conference rival Glenbard North, 46-19.

 

What made the season that much more special is that Corey got his first chance since graduating to attend a Naperville North game. He was at the Huskies' 20-8 semifinal win over Homewood Flossmoor and even gave the squad its pregame pep talk.

 

"It was just a bunch of hoo-rahs and cuss words," he joked.

 

McKeon's parents would often make the journey to Lincoln on a Saturday morning following Naperville North's game the previous evening.

 

"It's awesome," McKeon said of the state title. "I still follow the team extensively and I'm so proud of the team and proud of my dad. It feels like, after all these years, he earned it."

 

Would McKeon consider following his father into coaching after his pro days are over? The discussion has come up with his high school and college teammate, tight end Sean Hill.

 

"He and I always joke about coming back to take over the Naperville North program and building a dynasty," said McKeon. "He could take the offense and I'd take the defense."

 

Sounds like a plan.

[Hunter94]

wow, i don't see this guy any better than a special team player in the NFL.

[captain obvious]

"It's unfortunate but I gave it my all and so did all of my teammates," said McKeon, who started at linebacker for the Cornhuskers in each of his last three seasons. "As much as I'd like to be playing, I'm fortunate to have a chance to play at the next level."

 

Is or more appropriate here?

[macroboy]

The redshirt sophomore McKeon had a chance to play in the NFL.

 

The McKeon we saw last year has no shot.

 

I thought this was odd

 

"They changed the defense on us this year and we maybe got overworked a little in the spring and summer."

 

Changed it to what? The worst defense ever?

[Hunter94]

The redshirt sophomore McKeon had a chance to play in the NFL.

 

The McKeon we saw last year has no shot.

 

I thought this was odd

 

"They changed the defense on us this year and we maybe got overworked a little in the spring and summer."

 

Changed it to what? The worst defense ever?

 

 

overworked my ass......if he was still here now, he would never see the field playing for Pelini.....pansy ass.

[tattooedhusker]

good luck with that...you'll need it.

[bethelbacker]

He is, at best, a special teams player who might get some reps at safety if he can make the adjustment. Too small for an NFL backer, thats for sure. Oh, and it helps if you can tackle. That might come back to haunt him. Still, best of luck to him.

[BIGREDIOWAN]

I don't see him making it to the next level, but good luck to him.

[Cy the Cyclone]

Brian Bosworth...without the size...skill...speed...or mullet.

[KCMOHUSKER]

He is, at best, a special teams player who might get some reps at safety if he can make the adjustment. Too small for an NFL backer, thats for sure. Oh, and it helps if you can tackle. That might come back to haunt him. Still, best of luck to him.

 

I like that statement.

 

I can't see him making it, unless he returns to So. & Jr. year form. I think that he gave up after the USC game but "with the tough spring and summer" maybe he gave up then. With that I would love to see him make a NFL squad just to show that we did have talent.

[Cy the Cyclone]

He is, at best, a special teams player who might get some reps at safety if he can make the adjustment. Too small for an NFL backer, thats for sure. Oh, and it helps if you can tackle. That might come back to haunt him. Still, best of luck to him.

 

I like that statement.

 

I can't see him making it, unless he returns to So. & Jr. year form. I think that he gave up after the USC game but "with the tough spring and summer" maybe he gave up then. With that I would love to see him make a NFL squad just to show that we did have talent.

 

Hey! Corey NEVER gave up! It was those "guys"...he even pointed it out in the interview

 

"as we started to falter, guys kind of caved in a little.""

 

See...it was those "guys" that gave up...NOT Corey. Corey would have told us if he had caved in a little because he's...well...Corey!

[KCMOHUSKER]

He is, at best, a special teams player who might get some reps at safety if he can make the adjustment. Too small for an NFL backer, thats for sure. Oh, and it helps if you can tackle. That might come back to haunt him. Still, best of luck to him.

 

I like that statement.

 

I can't see him making it, unless he returns to So. & Jr. year form. I think that he gave up after the USC game but "with the tough spring and summer" maybe he gave up then. With that I would love to see him make a NFL squad just to show that we did have talent.

 

Hey! Corey NEVER gave up! It was those "guys"...he even pointed it out in the interview

 

"as we started to falter, guys kind of caved in a little.""

 

See...it was those "guys" that gave up...NOT Corey. Corey would have told us if he had caved in a little because he's...well...Corey!

 

U know what? You're right, I am not sure what I was thinking 'casue Coz and Callahan both said that they were doing the best they could. Man I am an idiot!

[junior4949]

I still say that some are going to be shocked at how many players off this team do get drafted. We had the talent, but we just didn't know what to do with it.

[KCMOHUSKER]

I still say that some are going to be shocked at how many players off this team do get drafted. We had the talent, but we just didn't know what to do with it.

 

I 100% agree.

[BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA]

A bit surprising to see this from the son of a coach.