Adam McLean

Defensive Tackle

Maryland

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Adam McLean:  6’2, weight is 309 pounds, and I am hoping to run in the 4.9 – 5.0 range.   

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Adam McLean:  I didn’t play any other sports.  I grew up as a boxer before high school.     

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Adam McLean:  I played RB, FB, TE, DE and DT.  I had like 400 rushing yards.  I got clips of me scoring 60 yards and breaking tackles.  I was a legitimate RB threat.   

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Adam McLean:  I ended up having 45 scholarship offers.  Florida State offered first during my sophomore year.  I was getting a lot of attention at combine events.  Schools started rolling in.  I didn’t let the attention get to my head.  I was a hard worker.  I came home and continued to run and lift.  I did those things.  My top three schools were Michigan State, Ole Miss and Maryland. 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Maryland? 

Adam McLean:  I was the No.2 recruit in the state of Maryland.  I was close to WR Stefon Diggs.  We are good friends.  He is like my big brother.  He intrigued me when he chose Maryland.  If he did it, then I could do it.  We came from the same area.  I decided to stay at home and do it for my city.  I am a blue collar kid coming from Maryland.  I wanted to be a part of the process and get things back on track at Maryland.  We are still good friends with Stefon to this day.   

Alex Khvatov:  How would you sum up your overall career with the Terps? 

Adam McLean:  I ended up starting nine games during my redshirt sophomore year.  I had 22 tackles and four TFL’s.  In 2018, I started every game, but one.  During that season, I had 36 tackles and eight TFL’s.  I was progressing and was looking to breakout my senior year.  I left the program in 2019.  I had to come home, train and find a job.  I was supposed to play at Bowie State, but they didn’t accept my transfer credits.  Then Covid hit at that point.  I was trying to get with the right people and train.     

Alex Khvatov:  What happened at Maryland?  Why did you leave the program? 

Adam McLean:  At the time, we changed coaches again.  I was with my fourth DL coach since I have been at Maryland.  The program was going in a different direction.  I didn’t feel that it was in my best interest to stay.  My teammate Jordan McNair passed away.  We were really close friends.  We were definitely locked in with him.  A lot was going on.  I felt like I needed a fresh start. 

Alex Khvatov:  Where are you currently training for the 2021 NFL Draft? 

Adam McLean:  I am training at Haden Sports and Performance in Maryland.  I have been here for four months already.  It has been tremendous.  I have gotten better here.  It is not regular training.  We do high intensity reps.  We go hard in there.   

Alex Khvatov:  You had the opportunity to play at the Tropical Bowl all-star game.  Describe that recent experience.    

Adam McLean:  It was finally a chance to get out there on the football field.  I had fun.  I talked to a bunch of teams.  I had a good performance.  I won the one on one reps.  I was happy about it.  It was a good experience to meet with some scouts and get the pads back on.  Teams couldn’t tell that I haven’t been playing for two years.   

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Adam McLean:  My best asset is my football IQ.  Also my athletic ability.  I am able to diagnose formations and how they tie to offensive schemes.  I know how to key on different blocks and see where guys are going to be.  I play fast.  I am very agile for my size and quick off the ball.  I can be effective against the pass and the run game. 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Adam McLean:  I need to improve on collapsing the pocket.  Going from stopping the run and converting to the pass.  I need to improve on my bull rush.  I am a quick, shifty guy, but I do have a lot of power and I can cause havoc.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Adam McLean:  The Ohio State game.  It was the game that went into triple OT.  We had multiple goal-line stances.  I had a couple of TFL’s.  We lost that game.  We missed a wide-open end zone pass.  I also had seven tackles against Iowa.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Adam McLean:  I have been a Washington fan all of my life.  I love the Saints as well.   

Alex Khvatov:  Is there an NFL DL that you aspire to play like?

Adam McLean:  Grady Jarrett and Kenny Clark are beasts.  They have shifty feet like a RB.  I played RB in high school.  As a DL, I am light on my feet and it allows me to play quicker.  Those guys are big, fast, strong and agile.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Adam McLean:  How to prepare like a pro.  I bring enthusiasm every day.  I know how to act appropriately.  I lead by example.  My attitude and effort every single day stands out.   

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye out for next season?

Adam McLean:  WR Dontay Demus Jr. and LB David Brownlee are working hard.  Look out for those guys.      

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a DL?

Adam McLean:  You got to be physical.  You have to love contact.  You have to have the aggression.  You have to play with a very violent demeanor.  You need to go and get your hands on the other guy. 

Alex Khvatov:  What sets you apart from the rest of the guys in this draft?

Adam McLean:  My perseverance.  I am two years removed from the game.  I have a great passion for this game.  I have the athletic ability that you do not see in a lot of guys.  I do receiver drills, and you can see that in my cut-ups.  You don’t see that from 300-pound DL.  I catch passes and run routes to get my feet good.  I always make sure to keep my footwork crisp and keep my body good.   

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Adam McLean:  There is nothing else like it.  You go compete and be physical.  It is legal to hit someone in this game.  I love the camaraderie.  You have one common goal.  You have to have selfless individuals.  Everyone has to do the right thing for each other.  You lean on your brothers to get a common thing done.  When everyone is doing their job, it is a beautiful thing.  In the NFL, you get paid a lot of money to play as a cohesive unit.  When teams win and they celebrate an INT in the end zone, that means everyone did their job. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Adam McLean:  I like to go fishing.  I like to go and workout in different places.   

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Adam McLean:  I want to be a family behavioral therapist.  I went to school for it.  It was not easy for me growing up.  I saw a lot of my friends go to jail or lose their lives.  I want to help kids when they struggle.  I want them to know it is okay.  It is a process.  They can still make it and achieve their goals.   

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Adam McLean:  My experiences in life.  I witnessed a lot of things.  I handled my own experiences extremely well.  Not playing football for two years, and I am still out here trying to make it.  My family has kept it real with me.  I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly from people. 

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Adam McLean:  Determined, strong-willed, leader, comprehensive, and loving.   

Alex Khvatov:  Who wins the Super Bowl this year and why?

Adam McLean:  The Bills because that team is having fun.  They got guys like Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs.  They have the love for the game.  They have that next play mentality.  They are playing for each other.