Examining The McCluster Factor

Dexter McCluster is a name that is probably not being talked about outside of the SEC, except maybe in a few late January meetings in Lubbock Texas. Inside the SEC though is another story. At 5’-8” and 165 pounds, McCluster is the little player that could for the Ole Miss Rebels.

First I will start with the obvious, the statistics. As the quarterback in the “Wild Rebel” formation, McCluster churned out 655 yards rushing last season for an average of a little over six yards per carry. This may not sound like a lot of rushing yards but considering that Ole Miss spread out the rushing duties between four regular running backs and a plethora of others getting touches, it begins to look like a monster number. Throw in that Ole Miss was second in the SEC in rushing yards per game and third in the SEC in total rushing yards, it is clear to see that McCluster is part of a potent rushing attack.

Dexter is not a running back though, he is a wide receiver, so let’s take a look at some receiving numbers. McCluster was third on the team in receiving yards with 44 catches for 625 yards and a touchdown. Ole Miss was the fourth team in passing yards per game in the conference and they return almost the entire receiving corps except Mike Wallace.

McCluster’s 1280 total yards in 2008 places him in seventh place in the SEC for all purpose yards, and accounts for almost 25 percent of Ole Miss’ 5296 total yards in 2008. One man standing just a mere 5’-8” is responsible for one fourth of the third-best offense in the SEC. Numbers are boring though, when examining Dexter’s impact on the Ole Miss Football team you have to look for something other than stats. In some coaching circles, it could be called an “X” factor, to me it is the "McCluster factor".

I really wish I could put my finger on it and relay to you what or how this kid does what he does, I can’t do that though. Is it his uncanny vision of the field? I don’t know about that since I already told you he was only 5’-8” tall, how can he see the field so good? Is it his speed? His slipperiness? All of those things help, but it is my opinion that the McCluster factor is more than that.

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