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Willis McGahee

McGahee in August 2007.
No. 23     Baltimore Ravens
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: October 20, 1981 (1981-10-20) (age 28)
Place of birth: Miami
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	Weight: 232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
College: University of Miami
NFL Draft: 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23
Debuted in 2004 for the Buffalo Bills
Career history
As player: Buffalo Bills (2003–2006) Baltimore Ravens (2007–present)
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl selection (2007)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 1, 2009
Rushing yards	5,433
Rushing average	4.0
Rushing TDs	43
Stats at NFL.com

Willis Andrew McGahee III (born October 21, 1981 in Miami, Florida) is an American football player who plays running back for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League. He attended the University of Miami.

[edit] College career

In college, McGahee broke several records in the 2002 season. He shattered school season records, carrying the ball 282 times for 1,753 yards (6.2 avg.) and 28 touchdowns. Only UCF's Kevin Smith (29 in 2007), Nebraska's Mike Rozier (29 in 1983) and Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders (37 in 1988) ran for more touchdowns in an NCAA Division I-A season.

McGahee's ten 100-yard performances broke the Hurricanes' season record of eight, set by Ottis Anderson in 1978; he added 350 yards on 24 receptions (14.6 avg.) that season. He gained 2,108 all-purpose yards, breaking selection.

McGahee was a member of the 2001 University of Miami team, which won the Division I national championship in that year (the fifth such national championship for the University of Miami since 1983, the most of any university in the past 25 years).

In 2002, McGahee, along with Ken Dorsey, Andre Johnson, Kellen Winslow II, and others led Miami to an undefeated regular season and a #1 ranking, which included a trip to the National Championship game against second ranked Ohio State. Ohio State won the game in double overtime. That year, he rushed for 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, given to the nation's top player, finishing fourth in the voting (660 votes). Teammate Ken Dorsey finshed 5th behind McGahee with 643 votes.

In the early part of the fourth quarter during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl National Championship Game, McGahee suffered an injury after catching a screen pass from Dorsey. He was immediately hit by Buckeye safety Will Allen, bending his left knee backwards and causing tears of the ACL, PCL, and MCL. Prior to getting hurt, he had rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, as Miami would lose the game in double-overtime, 31–24. This injury required several surgeries and extensive rehabilitation before he would be able to play again. At the season's end, McGahee announced he would not collect on a $2.5 million insurance policy he had taken out before the Championship game, and therefore would enter the 2003 NFL Draft.

At the conclusion of his collegiate career (2001–2002), he rushed for 2,080 yards and 31 touchdowns.

He majored in criminology.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Buffalo Bills

Prior to his knee injury in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, McGahee was considered "a cinch top-five pick."^[1] Because McGahee's knee injury was still a major concern to professional scouts, the Buffalo Bills drafted McGahee as the 23rd overall selection of the 2003 NFL Draft.

McGahee was still recuperating at the time, and eventually made his first professional debut in the first game of the 2004 NFL season. He became the team’s starting running back during the season, replacing Travis Henry, who later left to play for the Tennessee Titans. During the season, McGahee rushed for over 1,100 yards, and scored thirteen touchdowns, the fourth most in the league. He rushed for a career high 1,200 yards the following season. In 2006, McGahee did not perform as well in comparison with previous seasons, rushing for nearly 1000 yards with six touchdowns. McGahee also fell victim to several health concerns during the season, including ailments in his rib cage, ankle, and stomach.^[2] McGahee has had noticeable stamina problems throughout his NFL career, evident in games in which he would receive many carries or when he rushes for a large amount of yards.

Following the season's conclusion, the Bills traded him to the Baltimore Ravens for third and seventh round picks in the 2007 NFL Draft, and a third round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.^[3]

[edit] Baltimore Ravens

McGahee began his tenure with the Ravens in the 2007 NFL season. He replaced Jamal Lewis, who left the team to play for the Cleveland Browns. He was slated to earn 40.12 million dollars through a seven-year contract, making him one of the league's highest paid running backs. In his first season with Baltimore he rushed 1,207 yards. Injuries separated Willis from a fourth 1,000-yard season in 2008. He rushed for 671 yards and broke a career-long 77-yard touchdown run against Dallas.^[4][5] McGahee was the winner of the 2008 Madden Bowl.^[6]

During the 2009 AFC Championship Game McGahee scored two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but following a hard hit by Ryan Clark, he was taken off the field on a stretcher to be evaluated by team physicians.^[7] Doctors said he had feeling in his arms and legs but considerable pain in his neck the night of the hit.^[7] He was released from Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital the next day and made a full recovery. In week 4 of the 2009 season McGahee led the league in touchdowns with 5 and has 271 yards.^[8] As the season went on, the Ravens began to play Ray Rice more and he lost his starting role. In Week 13, in a game against the Packers at Lambeau Field, McGahee did a Lambeau Leap into Ravens fans sitting behind the end zone.

[edit] Career Statistics

[edit] Personal life

In January 2006, McGahee drew controversy when a woman claimed that he had fathered her children.^[9] Genetic testing proved that McGahee was not the father and has no children.^[9]

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

• Willis McGahee Official Web Site.
• Willis McGahee at ESPN.com

• Willis McGahee's NFL statistics at Pro-Football-Reference.com
• Ravens Player Bio