Eric McCready

2000 Media Guide Bio

College—This Season: Enters the fall listed third at the “X” receiver position, and will also play a big role on special teams as well. He missed most of spring practice, as he tried to come back too soon from chronic knee problems and the ensuing swelling hampered his mobility. He will be 100 percent for August drills, 1999: He played in all 12 games, including starts in three: Oklahoma, Kansas State and the Insight.com Bowl against Boston College. He enjoyed his breakout season, as he caught 17 passes for 214 yards, a healthy 12.6 yards per catch, He caught seven of the balls on third or fourth down, converting five into first downs, He caught at least one pass in 10 games, with his top game coming in the overtime in against Missouri, when he caught four passes for 84 yards. His long gain of 40 came in that game, on an option pass from Roman Hollowell. He also finished third in special team points with 10, on the strength of nine knockdown blocks and a wedge break. 1998: He saw action in nine games, including the Aloha Bowl, on both special teams and offense. He missed three games in the middle of the season due to a lower back strain. He tied for fourth on the team in special teams points with 14, on the strength of three tackles, eight knockdown blocks and two wedge breaks. 1997: He saw action in all 11 games (no starts), mostly on special teams. He did not catch a pass on offense, but he finished fourth on the team in special teams points with 18. He had six tackles (three solo, two inside-the-20), eight knockdown blocks and two wedge breaks. He had a good spring practice, and had four catches for 54 yards in the spring game. 1996; Redshirted; did not see any action. He practiced the entire season at wide receiver.

High School—As a senior, he garnered Blue Chip, SuperPrep and USA Today (honorable mention) All-America honors, when he was named first-team all-Colorado by the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. He was also an all-state (5A) selection by both papers, and made the state’s blue chip list by both as well (the News ranked him as Colorado’s No. 3 prospect). Blue Chip selected him as the No. 2 wide receiver in the Big Eight region, with Prep Football Report rating as the No. 1 receiver and No. 15 prospect overall on its all-Midlands team. He was also one of 11 wide receivers selected to the Tacoma News-Tribune’s Western 100 squad, and the National Recruiting Advisor selected him to its All-Midlands team. He was first team all-Centennial League as a junior and senior, and won his team’s “Extra Effort” Award as voted by his teammates as a senior, when he caught 50 passes for 980 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 19.6 yards per catch. He had a huge state title game when Creek beat Overland, 32-17, as he caught nine passes for 149 yards and two scores. As a junior, when he was honorable mention allstate, he had 36 catches for 780 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 89 career receptions for 1,845 yards and 23 touchdowns over three seasons. Creek was 12-2 his junior and senior seasons, winning the state 5A title both years, and was 94 his sophomore year under coach Mike Woolford. He also lettered twice in basketball (a member of Creek’s 1995 state champion team) and once in track (400-meter run, 49.8 personal best, and relays).

Academics—He is majoring in business (marketing) at Colorado. He is a former two-time member of CU’s Academic Starters team, He owned a 3.2 grade point average in high school.

Personal—Born Nov. 14, 1977 in Shawnee Mission, Kan. Hobbies include hockey, video games, fishing and playing with his dog, Nala. Father (Robert) played basketball at Cornell; brother (Mike) played hockey at New Hampshire and professionally with the Saginaw Lumberkings: another brother (Rob) plays football at Ball State; and a sister (Allison) runs professional marathons.