Schools visiting linebacker

Colleges have been hitting the road and starting today are out in full force. One player who is being lightning rod for D-I schools is linebacker Daron Mackey (6-0, 215, 4.71) from Bakersfield (Calif.) West. If the Mackey name sounds familiar to you it is because his cousin Blake Mackey was highly recruited and ended up signing with Colorado.

Mackey had a solid showing at the NIKE Camp held in Los Angeles two weeks ago. He benched 185 pounds, 16 times, while recording a 34-inch vertical and ran a 4.4 shuttle.

Mackey has an excellent frame and should end up weighing 240-pounds once he gets to a D-I regiment.

As of now, Mackey benches 275, squats a very impressive 465 and cleans 265. He was selected all-league as a junior after Mackey racked up 127 tackles and two sacks.

The Washington Huskies were on campus today (May 2nd) checking Mackey out. Arizona State is also scheduled to come by the school today. Fresno State was represented by head coach Pat Hill.

Later this week Arizona, Cal State-Sacramento and Colorado State are scheduled to be on campus.

"Daron is very coachable and has a great nose for the ball," West coach Rich Cornford said. "He also has an intense desire to win that makes him a natural born leader."

"Daron plays the run and the pass equally well," Cornford said. "On offense we plan to him at tight end to take advantage of his great hands. We played him at fullback last season."

"We plan to get at least 20 snaps a game on offense this fall, he is a difference maker," Cornford said. "Daron could line up anywhere on the football field and be successful."