Of the Denver Broncos ten draft-eligible prospects in for their local pro day, running back Cameron McDondle stands out. It has been that way for some time as he stands just 5-foot-7 according to his former team, the Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves.
“I’m about 5’6, maybe on a good day depending on the shoes I’m wearing,” McDondle said with a smile Tuesday when asked how tall he truly is but he also added that some scouts see it as a positive. “They sort of tell me that it can help you at the running back position because you have a low center of gravity. You can use that to your advantage. That’s the question mark but also maybe a helpful answer.”
McDondle, a former Columbine High School star and two-time All-State selection, excelled at the recent powerhouse Division-II CSU-Pueblo football program after being recruited by Colorado and Colorado State University among others. His grades, however, were holding him back and Pueblo was the best chance to get on the field.
In Pueblo, he immediately made his mark. He saw significant play each of the four years he was there and broke records along the way. According to the CSU-Pueblo team site, McDondle rushed for 5,951 career yards placing him first in program history, second all-time in the RMAC and 16th all-time in NCAA Division-II. His senior year, he rushed for 2,235 yards on his way to multiple publications Division-II All-American first teams and was a Harlon Hill Trophy finalists.
Although he gained several impressive accolades while at CSU-Pueblo, his college competition, paired with his size, will possibly hold him back and maybe out of the draft entirely. The Broncos have a history of taking chances on running backs and even signing undrafted college players. That fact was not lost on McDondle Tuesday.
“Any team you get on, you just have to go and make your mark somewhere and it kind of helps that they take backs like that,” he said of the Broncos propensity to look at all options at running back, no matter their background.
McDondle also has come to understand that his attempt to jump from Division-II to the National Football League creates an immediate uphill battle, one he is not shying away from.
“It’s been a lot of two-a-days. You got to do twice as much work just to compete. It’s been fun, though,” he said encouragingly, “I think they just have to let me get out here and I’ll show them that the jump is not that big.”
The local product also had an impressive CSU-Pueblo Pro Day, displaying his speed with an impressive 4.5 second 40-yard dash time and weighed in at a thick 211 pounds. He said Tuesday he would like to play at around 205 pounds but surprised himself with his speed at that weight just a few weeks ago.
“I thought I was going to be a little bit slower,” he admitted. “I felt a little heavier down there because I was 207 [pounds] here today. To be able to have that speed at 211 [pounds], I could only imagine if they get me stronger, faster, I’m going to get better.”
As for his fit with the Broncos, he admitted he was a fan of former undrafted college free agent C.J. Anderson but humbly was quick to dismiss comparisons when asked about the ball carrier.
“Oh yeah. He’s a beast too, though,” he told. “You can’t really compare yourself to someone like that. He’s a Super Bowl champ. But he’s a good back, he’s a shorter guy too so it kind of helps me out. They are kind of looking for those kind of backs. He needs a backup.”
McDondle is far off the draft boards, likely an undrafted player with only a few chances to make a team following the draft but when you ask him about what he brings to the table and what Denver needs, he is clear.
“I got this attitude. This really good attitude,” he said. “They just need a spark, a spark player to come out there and make a big play for you.”
After an incredible high school and college career in Denver, Tuesday McDondle confidently just asked for one thing from whoever gives him a shot in the coming months.
“Just give me some time,” he told. “Let me get in there. I’ll show them.”
