McCoy is an opportunist -- any opportunity he has to go to the end zone, he takes. In just 25 games as a Panther, he scored 36 times, including 35 rushing. He ranked second in the nation in scoring as a freshman (9.69 ppg) and eighth as a freshman (7.50 ppg). Along the way, he achieved his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season in 2008, joining Tony Dorsett (1973-76) and Curvin Richards (1988-89) as the only players in Pittsburgh history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

McCoy's 36 total touchdowns also helped him break the school, Big East Conference and NCAA record for most touchdowns produced by a player as a freshman and sophomore, topping the old mark of 34 scores by receiver Larry Fitzgerald (2002-03). His 35 touchdown runs also broke the freshman/sophomore combined record of 24 by Dorsett during the 1973-74 campaigns.

McCoy enjoyed a heralded career at Harrisburg's Bishop McDevitt High School, where he went on to become one of the most prolific rushers in Pennsylvania history. He was twice named to the Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAAA All-State first-team and was selected AP Class AAAA Player of the Year as a junior. He also received Super Prep, Prep Star and U.S. Army All-America honors, in addition to being rated the nation's 11th-best overall prospect by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report.

McCoy entered his senior season on pace to break the state rushing record, but suffered a compound ankle fracture (right) in the season's fourth game. In just three-plus games that year, he rushed for 859 yards and 10 touchdowns on 83 carries (10.3 avg.). He finished his career as the state's ninth all-time leading rusher with 6,640 yards and 75 touchdowns.

He was selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic and the All-American Bowl, an All-Star game featuring the nation's top 80 high school players at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas. He ultimately did not participate in those games due to his recovery from his injury.

In 2006, McCoy enrolled at Milford Academy (N.Y.). He was rated the country's second-best prep school prospect by Scout and 10th-best by Rivals.com. He helped the team compile a 7-3 record, as he carried 77 times for 547 yards with four touchdowns (7.1 avg.).

McCoy became an instant sensation upon his arrival at Pittsburgh in 2007. He was a unanimous Freshman All-American and named to the All-Big East Conference first team. The Big East Rookie of the Year led the nation's freshmen with an average of 110.67 yards per game rushing (ranked 21st overall). He set the Big East freshman rushing record with 1,328 yards on 276 carries (4.8 avg.) and 14 touchdowns.

The first-year player also set Pittsburgh's freshman single-season records with 90 points scored and 15 total touchdowns, topping Dorsett's 1973 marks of 78 points and 13 scores. He pulled down 33 passes for 244 yards (7.4 avg.) and one touchdown, as he placed third in the league with an average of 131.0 all-purpose yards per game.

As a sophomore, McCoy garnered All-America second-team and All-Big East first-team honors. A semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award (nation's top player) and Doak Walker Award (top running back), he produced 21 touchdowns on 308 rushing attempts for 1,488 yards (4.8 avg.). He snatched 32 passes for 305 yards (9.5 avg.) and finished third in the league with an average of 139.15 all-purpose yards per game.

McCoy has been favorably compared to Pittsburgh's Hall of Fame tailback, Tony Dorsett, who recently stated, "This is the first player who has come along who truly reminds me of me."

GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 6.74

Body Structure: McCoy has an adequate frame, built more in the lines of a receiver, as he lacks great size, but does play with deceptive strength. He is fairly lean and could probably add another 20 pounds of bulk (played at 210 as a sophomore). He has tapered muscles and a compact torso, but adequate thighs and small, high calves.

Athletic Ability: Even though his timed speed is good, McCoy displays game-breaking quickness and the ability to consistently make defenders miss in space. He has natural hands and good receiving skills and has been an impact player for Pitt, thanks to his acceleration, burst and excellent vision. He has outstanding body control and hip swivel, evident when he plants his foot and cuts in an instant. He does need to show more patience as a runner (will outrun his protection), but he has that stop-and-go action that leaves defenders grabbing at air. GRADE: 7.3

Football Sense: McCoy has good field instincts, but is just a marginal-to-adequate student who needs more than several reps to retain. He was a prep school entry due to academics, but has that natural feel for pressure and the vision to make exciting things happen on the football field. He is a much quicker study on the field than in the classroom, especially with his natural run instincts, as you never see any hesitation in his play. GRADE: 6.4

Character: McCoy is a quiet sort who does let bad plays linger longer than they should, more the product of his youth than a lack of self-confidence. He will be the second member of his family to embrace the NFL, as his brother, LeRon, was a receiver with Arizona, the 49ers and Houston. He has no off-field issues, but did disappoint the staff with his yo-yoing back and forth with his decision whether to come out early or stay in school. GRADE: 6.3

Competitiveness: McCoy knows he is not going to beat a defender with brute strength. He has great run instincts and vision to see and scan the field. He is more of a finesse-type rather than a power runner, even though he can break tackles consistently. He has a high pain tolerance and, even though he was worn down by the 2008 season's end, he never complained. Even though he lacks bulk and power, he will never shy away from inside traffic. GRADE: 6.7

Work Habits: McCoy will never be captain material, but he is a hard worker, whether in practices, the training room or in the film room. He has a good blue-collar work ethic and is physically tough (mental toughness is inconsistent). He is not very vocal, but he never misses a team function (practices, training, etc.). GRADE: 7.0

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 6.86

Initial Quickness: McCoy is faster than "Speedy Gonzalez" when turning the corner, where defenders get to see him execute his second and third gears, mostly from a distance. He also attacks the inside creases with tremendous explosion, getting to top speed in an instant. He gets a solid jump and some of the best movement on the ball than any other runner in this draft crop. It takes him just a step or two to reach top speed and he has that fluid hip wiggle to make defenders miss in space. GRADE: 7.7

Acceleration/Burst: McCoy comes out of his stance with excellent explosion. He has that short, pitter-patter step style to slip through and avoid traffic, doing a great job of planting and redirecting on a dime. He is a very quick darter in space and has good success moving the chains, whether turning the corner or running between tackles. He can burst through the hole and accelerate and separate once he gets into the open. GRADE: 7.2

Instincts/Balance: With his outstanding balance, quick feet, loose hips and plant-and-drive agility, McCoy has developed into a top-flight slippery open-field runner. He needs to protect the ball closer to his body on the move, but he has above-average run instincts, especially with his effectiveness trying to slide and dart through the crowd. His playing speed is "make you miss" type and he has that natural anticipation for rushing lanes, seeing creases and defenders to instinctively burst and elude. GRADE: 7.0

Inside Running: For a player lacking great bulk, he has a lot of "Warrick Dunn" in him, as he will lower his pads, sink his weight and square his shoulders to drive up the gut. He does a good job of planting and driving, showing the body lean to bounce off tackles and escape the crowd. It is rare to see him stop his feet on contact and he has that uncanny ability to jump cut and power through the small creases. With his balance and burst, he can hit the seams in an instant. GRADE: 7.6

Outside Running: For a player with his lack of bulk and with his great acceleration, you would think that he would be a better outside runner. He does not toss on the "afterburners" turning the edge as he does when breaking to daylight from an inside hole. He has that short-area burst to get outside, but does get into ball-security problems, as when he accelerates, he tosses his arms around wildly and keeps the ball loose, leading to costly fumbles. He has the speed to go the distance, but it is strange that he gets run down a bit more when bouncing wide to race down the sidelines. GRADE: 6.2

Elusiveness: McCoy gets a lot of space to pull away from the defender, thanks to his lateral slide and dart ability. He generates explosive acceleration out of his cuts and has the vision, quick change-of-direction agility and burst to consistently make the first defender miss. In the open field, he is much more than just a one-cut runner, but his speed does vary going long distances and he can be caught from behind on long runs. GRADE: 6.5

Tackle-Breaking Strength: McCoy is never going to be a pile mover, but he does have deceptive strength, mostly from his lower body. He can uncoil on contact and flashes that low pad level to navigate through traffic, but is best when he has space in order to be more effective. When he squares his shoulders, maintains balance and drives with his legs, he will break a fair share of tackles and with his body lean, he does a decent job of falling forward. GRADE: 5.9

Tendency to Fumble: McCoy is not fumble prone, but will cough up the ball more on outside runs than when working between tackles. He just needs to protect the ball and keep it closer to his frame when racing around the edge. He also must learn how to carry the ball in either arm (more right-side dominant), but does secure the ball better when operating in traffic. GRADE: 6.0

Receiving Skills: McCoy is a natural hands catcher who could become a nice weapon lined wide or in the slot in a multiple receiver formation. He does a good job of extending and plucking the ball outside his frame and shows good hand/eye coordination to take the screen, turn and head upfield without breaking stride. He is not used much on deep routes, but with his hip snap and body torso, he appears capable of getting adjusted to get to the ball over his outside shoulder. He shows good hand placement and leaping ability to high point the throws and the field awareness to get into position to make the play. GRADE: 6.3

Route Running: McCoy is used mostly on controlled routes, so it is hard to evaluate his long-ball stride and adjustment ability, but he appears very comfortable catching the ball chest-high or over his shoulders. He shows no drift in his patterns and he has the playing speed to stretch the field and go vertical. He is quick to plant and accelerate coming out of his breaks. Still, he has been relegated to flares and screens mostly (simple routes). GRADE: 6.0

Blocking Ability: McCoy is a better blocker in space, thanks to his angle concept. He is just not a contact seeker at the line of scrimmage. He used to leave his feet often, but the coaches worked with him on this before the 2008 season. He is still a bit soft in blitz pick-up and needs to do a better job of facing up with aggression. He cuts effectively, but has to do a better job of taking on the pass rush and squaring to the target. GRADE: 5.0

Compares To: WARRICK DUNN, ex-Tampa Bay -- Some scouts liken McCoy to Pittsburgh's Willie Parker, but he doesn't have the same patience in following blocks or the outside running skills the Steelers tailback brings to the table. McCoy is bigger than Dunn, but both have made a nice living off exploding through holes between the tackles. Both are also very effective as receivers coming out of the backfield. His acceleration is in the category with Dallas' Felix Jones, but he lacks the deceptive power the Cowboy possesses.

OVERALL GRADE: 6.53

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

McCoy started 22 of 25 games he played in at Pittsburgh, carrying the ball 584 times for 2,816 yards (4.82 avg.) and 35 touchdowns, adding 549 yards and a score on 65 receptions (8.4 avg.), 16 yards on a kickoff return and scored 216 points … Also completed two of four passes for 32 yards, recorded three tackles (two solos) and generated 3,381 all-purpose yards, an average of 135.24 yards per game … His combined touchdown total of 36 topped the previous NCAA record for freshman and sophomores of 32 by Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald (2002-03) … His 35 rushing touchdowns as a freshman/sophomore surpassed the record of Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett (24, 1973-74) … Ranks eighth in Big East Conference history with 35 touchdown runs … Joined Dorsett (1973-76) and Curvin Richards (1988-89) as the only players in school history to achieve multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons … His 2,816 yards rushing rank fourth in school history behind Dorsett (6,526; 1973-76), Richards (3,192; 1988-90) and Craig Heyward (3,086; 1984, 1986-87) … His 1,328 yards rushing in 2007 broke the Big East single-season record for freshmen, topping the previous mark of 1,261 yards by Terrell Willis of Rutgers in 1993 … McCoy's 1,488 rushing yards in 2008 rank fifth on the school single-season record list behind Dorsett (2,150 in 1976; 1,686 in 1975; 1,686 in 1975) and Heyward (1,791 in 1987) … His 21 touchdown runs in 2008 rank second in school season annals behind Dorsett's 22 in 1976 … His 308 rushing attempts in 2008 tied Mike Cloud of Boston College (1988).

Second-team All-America selection by The NFL Draft Report, Sports Illustrated and Rivals.com, earning third-team accolades from College Football News … All-Big East Conference first-team pick and named Big East Offensive Player of the Year by the media … Semi-finalist for both the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award … Team Most Valuable Player … Started all 13 games, leading the Big East while ranking second in the nation in scoring, averaging 9.69 points per game … Finished second in the league and 10th nationally with an average of 114.46 yards per game rushing, as he also ranked third in the conference with 1,809 all-purpose yards, an average of 139.15 yards per game … Ran for a career-high 1,488 yards and 21 touchdowns on 308 carries (4.8 avg.), as he produced 89 first downs (28.9%) and converted 11 of 31 third-down snaps (35.48%) … Had 40 carries that gained at least 10 yards (12.99%), including 10 for 20 yards or longer … Recorded 49 positive runs inside the end zone (15.91%), including 27 on goal-line plays … Credited with key rushing attempts that set up 28 touchdown drives and nine other series that ended with field goals … Turned the ball over three times on six fumbles, as he was stopped behind the line of scrimmage on 27 carries (8.77%) and tackled for no gain on 15 other rushing attempts … Ran for over 100 yards six times and scored at least one touchdown in all but two of his 13 contests.

Bowling Green … McCoy began the season quietly, rushing for 71 yards on 23 attempts while catching five passes for 45 yards … Scored on a 11-yard burst that capped an eight-play, 71-yard series for the Panthers' first touchdown of 2008.

Buffalo … The sophomore found the end zone three times and also set up a field goal while totaling 93 yards on 20 carries, including four attempts on goal-line plays … Also had a 24-yard reception … He ended an 8-play, 67-yard drive with a 3-yard run in the second quarter and followed with a 1-yard third-quarter touchdown plunge … In the fourth stanza, his 2-yard score capped a 74-yard, 10-play possession.

Iowa … McCoy fumbled twice, turning the ball over once, as he registered 18 carries for 78 yards, including a game-winning 27-yard touchdown to conclude a nine-play, 80-yard fourth-quarter possession in a 21-20 decision.

Syracuse … McCoy cracked the century mark for the first time in 2008, gaining 149 yards on 28 carries, as he set up two touchdown drives and two more series that produced field goals.

South Florida … The sophomore tailback coughed the ball up on a fumble, but he scored twice and piled up 142 yards on 28 attempts to lead Pitt to a 26-21 triumph against a defense that was allowing just 58 yards per game rushing … McCoy barreled over linebacker Tyrone McKenzie for a 6-yard score in the second quarter … He scored the game-winning touchdown from 3 yards out with 4:33 to play, setting up that score with a 19-yard carry, earning Big East Player of the Week honors.

Navy … McCoy ran for three touchdowns and 10 first downs while totaling 156 yards on 18 rushes (8.7 avg.), adding 46 yards on two receptions … He began the game with a 2-yard scoring run and followed with an 11-yard touchdown early in the second quarter … He sent Pittsburgh into the locker room with a comfortable 35-14 lead after rambling 58 yards for a touchdown with 1:04 left in the first half.

Rutgers … The "McCoy Express" was in full steam vs. Rutgers, as he ran for four scores on 26 attempts for 146 yards, adding 34 yards on three receptions … He also set up two field goals and delivered nine first downs … He opened the game's scoring with a 33-yard run down the right sidelines and added a 22-yarder early in the second quarter … Later in that frame, he concluded a 70-yard series with a 1-yard touchdown plunge … Midway through the third quarter, he found the end zone again on another 1-yard run.

Notre Dame … McCoy carried 32 times for 169 yards and made two catches for 23 yards in a 36-33 overtime triumph … His fourth-quarter 1-yard touchdown run ended a 70-yard, 15-play series that dead-locked the game at 17-17 … It marked his fifth consecutive game with at least 100 yards rushing.

Cincinnati … The tailback did not reach the century mark, but picked up 82 yards on 17 runs, including a pair of scores … He opened the game's scoring with a 6-yarder that finished a 10-play, 69-yard series and in the fourth quarter, he broke free for a 16-yard touchdown jaunt … Also pulled down six passes for 45 yards.

West Virginia … McCoy scored two more touchdowns on 33 carries that produced 183 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards … Accounted for 55 of the team's 59 yards on a game-winning drive, including a 1-yard touchdown with 0:52 left for a 19-16 victory.

Connecticut … The tailback fumbled once, but generated 95 yards on 24 rushes in a 34-10 regular-season win … Midway through the third quarter, he wheeled off a 47-yard scoring scamper.

Oregon State (Sun Bowl) … McCoy closed out his career with 85 yards on 24 chances in a tough 3-0 loss.

McCoy was a unanimous Freshman All-American and first-team All-Big East Conference choice … Named Big East Rookie of the Year, as his 1,328 rushing yards not only led the nation's freshmen, but broke the previous conference single-season record of 1,261 yards by Terrell Willis of Rutgers in 1993 … Broke Tony Dorsett's school freshman records (78 points, 13 touchdowns) with 90 points and 14 touchdown runs … Carried 276 yards for a 4.8-yard average, as he ranked second in the league and 21st nationally (overall) with an average of 110.67 yards per game rushing … Came up with 69 first-down runs, as he converted 11 of 37 third-down snaps … Had 38 attempts inside the red zone, including 20 on goal-line plays … Produced 33 rushes for at least 10 yards, including nine for 20 yards or longer … Was tackled behind the line of scrimmage 20 times and stopped for no gain on 19 other attempts … Caught 33 passes for 244 yards (7.4 avg.) and one score, as he also recorded a solo tackle and completed one pass for 9 yards … Ranked third in the Big East and 30th nationally with an average of 131.0 all-purpose yards per game … His seven 100-yard rushing performances rank second on the school freshman single-season record list behind Dorsett's 10 in 1973.

Eastern Michigan … McCoy began the season quietly, coming off the bench to gain 68 yards on 10 carries, setting up a scoring drive with a 29-yard burst.

Grambling State … Followed with 19 attempts for 107 yards and 16 yards on three catches … Scored three times in less than four-and-a-half minutes in the opening quarter on runs of 5, 7 and 13 yards … His three rushing touchdowns were one shy of the Pitt freshman game mark set by Elliot Walker in 1974 (four vs. Temple).

Michigan State … The freshman broke loose for a season-high 172 yards on 25 chances … In the second half, much of McCoy's production was from the shotgun formation, where he took direct snaps, ripping off a 64-yard scoring scamper … It was his second consecutive 100-yard game, the first time that a Pitt freshman has had back-to-back 100-yard outings since Curtis Martin in 1991 … McCoy's 172 yards marked the seventh-best game rushing performance by a Pitt freshman.

Navy … The Pitt tailback delivered 165 yards on 32 carries that included three touchdowns and nine first downs, as five of those runs were for at least 10 yards, all coming inside the red zone … Scored on a pair of 2-yard runs and also had a 21-yarder.

Cincinnati … Credited with 137 yards on 25 carries vs. the Bearcats.

Louisville … Collected 120 yards on 26 carries that included a 7-yard score and grabbed three passes for 60 yards, as one catch covered 27 yards on a gadget-play pass from tight end Darrell Strong for a touchdown … Earned Big East Player of the Week honors, the first Pitt freshman to be honored since Larry Fitzgerald in 2002.

Syracuse … Produced his fourth consecutive 100-yard game, as he generated 31 carries for 140 yards and a game-winning 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter … Also gained 12 yards on five catches.

South Florida … Caught a season-high six passes for 83 yards and rushed 18 times for 55 yards, finding the end zone twice on 1-yard carries and again on a 12-yard burst, marking the third time that the freshman scored three times in a 2007 game.

West Virginia … Ended his rookie season with 38 attempts for 148 yards and also had a 10-yard reception.

Enrolled at Milford (N.Y.) Academy, playing football for head coach Bill Chaplick … Rated the second-best prep school prospect in the country by Scout.com and tenth by Rivals.com … Carried 77 times for 547 yards (7.1 avg.) and four touchdowns to helped the team to a 7-3 record against a schedule made up of collegiate competition.

2005: Suffered a right ankle compound fracture early during his high school senior season, missing the final eight games.

2009: Could not perform at the NFL Combine due to a bout with the flu.

Campus: 4.52 in the 40-yard dash … 1.54 10-yard dash … 2.59 20-yard dash … 4.23 20-yard shuttle … 6.87 three-cone drill … 29-inch vertical jump … 8'11" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times.

Combine: 31 1/4-inch arms. … 8 7/8-inch hands. … Did not participate in positional drills or workout due flu symtomps.

Attended Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) High School, playing football for head coach Jeff Weachter … Became one of the most prolific rushers in Pennsylvania history … Twice named to the Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAAA All-State first-team … AP Class AAAA Player of the Year as a junior … Super Prep, Prep Star and U.S. Army All-American, in addition to being rated the nation's 11th-best overall prospect by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report … Entered his senior season on pace to break the state rushing record, but suffered a compound ankle fracture (right) in the season's fourth game … In just three-plus games that year, he rushed for 859 yards and 10 touchdowns on 83 carries (10.3 avg.) … Finished his career as the state's ninth all-time leading rusher with 6,640 yards and 75 touchdowns … Selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic and the All-American Bowl, an All-Star game featuring the nation's top 80 high school players at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas, but ultimately did not participate in those games due to his recovery from his injury.

General Studies major, enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences … Older brother, LeRon, was a receiver for Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2005-06) and one year with the San Francisco 49ers (2007) before signing with the Houston Texans in 2008 … Son of Daphne and Ron McCoy … Born LeSean Kamel McCoy on 7/12/88 … Resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.