USF Athletics

Game 2 Player to Watch: Khalid McGee

September 07, 2018

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, SEPT. 7, 2018 – Khalid McGee was an instant hit in his first-career start at linebacker to open the 2018 season and the senior wants to bring the noise even more Saturday on the national stage.

The tough-tackling playmaker and USF's swarming defense will try to slow down Georgia Tech's triple-option offense that produced 543 yards in its opening act of the season. Households across the country can catch the action from Raymond James Stadium on ABC or ESPN2 starting at noon on Saturday.

"I can show my physicality off and I'll be ready," McGee said.

The former all-state honorable mention from Miami Northwestern High School certainly was up to the task last week. McGee totaled a career-high 11 tackles from the weak-side linebacker spot against Elon and impressed defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary in the process.

"For his first time really being a true linebacker, going through spring and preseason practice, I was very, very happy for Khalid," Jean-Mary said. "He was one of our players of the game."

McGee started the switch from safety to linebacker late last season and he's made his coordinator proud ever since with his dedication to preparation. Up nearly 20 pounds to 213 this fall, McGee's mission of molding into a mean linebacker goes well beyond the weight room.

"He's a kid that is always in your office. He's always trying to get better," Jean-Mary said. "He's always asking questions and he's trying to learn the game more and more every day."

The learning process has steadily sped up thanks in part to McGee knowing what's going on behind and around him.

"For a kid that played in the secondary and moved up to linebacker, he probably has a little bit more knowledge as far as schemes go and how people try to attack you," Jean-Mary said. "He asks questions regarding coverages and run fits that some other linebackers don't ask because he's been in the back end."

At this point, McGee said he knows Jean-Mary's defense "like the back of his hand" and being able to think fast will come in handy in sweltering conditions Saturday. Georgia Tech (1-0) wore down Alcorn State last week with its triple-option attack that racked up 439 rushing yards on 54 attempts.

"We know they're going to come at your legs," said McGee of triple-option cut blocks. "Effort is a big thing and tackling is a big thing. You have to have eye discipline because they feed off big plays. That's where the get you."

No matter which way the Yellow Jackets decide to pitch the ball, expect an all-out performance from USF's relentless run-stopper.

"We always know he's going to run to the ball," said Jean-Mary of McGee. "He's going to have a little attitude when he gets there and he's going to play with max effort."

USF also is happy to have an athletic linebacker like McGee, who has the speed to patrol the field for passes. Georgia Tech threw the ball only 18 times last week, but former Yellow Jackets linebackers coach Jean-Mary (2004-09) knows his former team isn't afraid to take to the air when opportunities present themselves.

Expect McGee to be ready.

"You can always see his mind working," Jean-Mary said. "He's always trying to see what the next step is with how people are going to attack us and what we're going to do to stop them."

Learn more about McGee's football history, family and career plans for the future HERE.

ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
 
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