NFL analyst quiets Ka’Deem Carey pre-draft concerns

Nobody’s perfect.

This phrase especially rings true in NFL draft circles as even the most polished prospects like Andrew Luck, Cam Newton and Peyton Manning were examined and critiqued under the most scientific microscopes.

Former Tucson Canyon del Oro and University of Arizona star Ka’Deem Carey isn’t going to be a top pick, most likely not even a first-round pick but some feel his pre-draft criticism is both too harsh and at times, inaccurate.

“I keep hearing all this concern about his so-called long speed…as we get close to the draft,” NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis explained to Brad Cesmat in a recent phone interview. “I don’t care about that a heck of a lot…I’m a big Ka’Deem Carey fan.”

Carey, who left UofA after his junior season last fall, rushed for a school-record 4,232 yards during his three seasons. He participated in February’s NFL Combine and has been working out and meeting with teams before next month’s draft.

He also got a vote of confidence from his head coach.

“I see projections that he could be in the late-second, maybe the third or even the fourth round,” Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez told Cesmat during a recent broadcast in Tucson. “You know, if he’s not one of the first three or four running backs taken, I’ll be shocked. Ka’Deem Carey is a heck of a football player. There may be one or two running backs better than him but I haven’t seen them.”

Many believe Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde will be the first selected but some, Davis included, wouldn’t be surprised to hear Carey’s name called earlier than most of the so-called experts have projected.

“Hyde is my number one running back but I’d put Ka’Deem Carey up against just about anybody else I would rank.”

Carey understands he still needs to improve in some areas.

“I need more technique in pass blocking,” he said at The Combine. “Technique will play a big way in the way I get drafted.”

LSU’s Jeremy Hill and Bishop Sankey from Washington are other players who rank closely to Carey.