Michigan Football Signee Bio: Linebacker Cameron McGrone
Indianapolis Lawerence Central four-star outside linebacker Cameron McGrone is officially a part of the Michigan football program.
Measurables
• At Nike’s The Opening regional in Oakland, McGrone ran a 4.67 40-yard dash and a 4.46 20-yard shuttle. He also recorded a 34.8-inch vertical jump and a 40-foot power ball throw resulting in a Nike+ Football Rating of 105.99.
His score ranked 188th nationally and 16th at the regional he attended.
Statistics
• As a senior, McGrone recorded 84 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and four sacks in seven games. He also had two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
• During his junior season, McGrone had 75 tackles, including 15.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks.
• Racked up 36 tackles and four tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2015.
Honors
• 2017 U.S. Army All-American
• 2017 American Family Insurance All-USA Central Indiana football Super Team
• 2017 IndianaPreps Defensive Player of the Year
• 2017 IndyStar Mr. Football at linebacker as chosen by the Indiana Football Coaches Association ratings board
• 2017 Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50
• 2017 Defensive Player of the Year in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC)
• 2016 Indiana Football Coaches Association Junior All-State
• 2016 Associated Press Indiana All-State football team honorable mention
• Named to the All-Marion County First Team in 2016 and 2017
• Earned All-USA Central Indiana Super Team and IFCA Top 50 All-State Dream Team honors as a senior; also named to the IFCA Junior All-State Team in 2016
• Co-recipient of the 2017 IndyStar Top Linebacker Award selected by the Indiana State Coaches Association board
• 2017 high school Butkus Award nominee
• 2017 Academic All-State
• Two-time All-MIC (Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference) selection in 2016 and 2017
All-Star Games And Camps
• Will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 6, 2018.
• Was selected to compete in Nike's The Opening Finals in 2017.
• Participated in Nike's The Opening regional in Columbus in 2016 and in Oakland in 2017.
• Participated in the Preps 2 Prospects Camp in Indianapolis in 2016.
• Participated in the Best of Midwest Camp in Indianapolis in 2016.
• Competed in the Rivals Camp in Columbus in 2016.
Recruitment
• Committed to Michigan on July 31, 2017, after spending time in Ann Arbor for Michigan's BBQ at The Big House.
• Held offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Northwestern, among others, with the Irish posing the biggest threat to U-M.
• Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown, along with linebackers coach Chris Partridge, spearheaded McGrone's recruitment.
Notable
• Born on June 22, 2000.
• Suffered a torn ACL in the final game of the regular season in 2016.
2018 Projection
When Michigan gets ready to kick things off in 2018, there will be a decent veteran presence at linebacker, but the roster will also include some very solid young talent at the position.
Noah Furbush is scheduled to be a fifth-year senior in 2018, but has not announced his future plans. Behind him is a group of juniors in Devin Gil, Devin Bush Jr. and Joshua Uche. Throw in the loaded 2017 group of signees consisting of Joshua Ross, Drew Singleton and Jordan Anthony, who will be second-year players, and the linebacking corps appears very sturdy.
It's likely that McGrone won't be needed as a true freshman, but his knack for blitzing and overall football IQ may be too much to keep off the field.
They Said It
Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt: "When I first saw Cameron McGrone, he was almost completely unknown in recruiting circles, but he was a guy who made you immediately stand up and take notice. He brings a combination of size, athleticism and instincts to the position that earned him four-star status."
Lawrence Central head coach Bill Peebles: “His maturity level is off the charts. From day one, I walked in here and he was a second-semester sophomore and he stood out like a second-semester senior. He’s extremely intelligent and grounded; he has a great family. When you add those attributes on to him being a great athlete, the tangible things — he has all of the intangible things you look for too.
“I’ve been doing this for 20-plus years and he’s one of only two players who have ever been a team captain as a junior at any level of football. Even in my playing days, it’s always seniors, but he rose to that level as a true leader of our team last year. For the programs I’ve been a part of that is highly unusual, but it’s very well deserved for Cameron."
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