Transfer Portal Profile: Houston RB Alton McCaskill
One of the most surprising moves of this college football off season came when Houston Cougars running back Alton McCaskill decided to enter the Transfer Portal.
Considering he played under Shannon Dawson, the former coordinator for the Houston Cougars that’s now operating the same position for the Miami Hurricanes, McCaskill would be an excellent addition to the Canes (or any other program, too).
Heading into his redshirt-sophomore season, McCaskill was likely going to headline the offense for the Cougars after they had lost talented quarterback Clayton Tune to the Arizona Cardinals. He was the 139th pick, in the fifth round, of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Here’s the backdrop of what McCaskill accomplished in 2021 while playing with Tune and under the watchful eye of Dawson
2021 Statistics
Rushing: 189 attempts, 961 yards, 5.1 average, and 16 touchdowns.
Receiving: 21 receptions, 113 yards, 5.4 average, and 2 touchdowns.
Those would be eye-popping numbers for a junior or senior; McCaskill accomplished those numbers as a freshman. The 6-foot-1 and 210-pound all-around skill position talent did suffer a setback shortly thereafter, however.
In the spring of 2022, he succumbed to a non-contact knee injury that kept him out of this past season. McCaskill has recovered and participated in Houston’s 2023 spring practice before going into the Transfer Portal.
Here’s a look at what he brings to the table for the fortunate program that he signs with.
Power
After watching McCaskill hit the hole time and time again, he’s a bonafide downhill power runner. He breaks arm tackles and also slides off – left or right – to churn out additional yardage before going down; he’s constantly moving towards the goal line.
In the red zone, in particular, McCaskill must be keyed on by opposing defenses, i.e. adding an extra defender to the box. That makes it easier for his teammates to win their matchups, as an added bonus to having this brute lining up at running back.
Patience
Many big backs struggle with trying to hit the crease prior to the play truly developing. Despite having had the ability to rely on his power, McCaskill was consistent with waiting for blocks to develop.
It was fun to watch him peel off towards the opposite side of the block that happened right in front of him, and then burst into the open field.
One could make a strong argument that patience has been McCaskill’s biggest asset. Several of his 10-plus yard runs were started by cutting back and hitting a hole that was not the intended destination. While his vision helped, it would not have mattered without the patience to make it happen.
Here's an example of his patience:
He also showcased that talent in the open field after he was into the secondary. During one play, he had two defenders to beat to reach the end zone.
McCaskill allowed the first defensive back to cut him off. He then slowed down ever so slightly, cut underneath him and angled himself towards the middle of the field, and out ran the other defensive back to the goal line. Brilliant display of patience that resulted in six points for the Cougars.
Practical
Sometimes there’s not much there. During the history of football, many other running backs made poor choices and bounced to the perimeter and lost yards when the best play was just power through the hole and accepting the short gain.
A runner that consistently recognized the best option was a 3-yard gain, or similar, that’s a proven running back worth his weight in gold. Those are also the types of running backs that often end up getting drafted into the NFL.
He was also impactful within the passing game, as the following video displayed:
Productivity
This was just point blank. McCaskill found paydirt 16 times as a runner and twice more as a receiver, during his freshman campaign. He’s been legit when it mattered most.
Determination
All of the above attributes led to this category. He has to be hungry for success to be so skilled and yet so pragmatic on the football field. No matter one’s skill level, without desire, it’s for naught.
Overall, McCaskill will probably make an impact at any school he selects. He’s a special all-around running back that has NFL potential.
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