PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He probably did all he needed to do by showing up early in the day. It's the first thing they did at the Pitt Pro Day, announcing the players height and weight.
'Calijah Kancey, 6'1", 283 pounds'
"I feel great, they thought I was 5'10"," Kancey said. "I came in 6'1", 283 pounds and surprised a lot of people."
It's been the big question for NFL teams, he says even after the NFL Combine. Kancey wasn't measured by a Pitt employee either, he was measured by an NFL employee in the Panthers weight room. Not that he believes that height, especially, should matter.
"Playing defensive tackle, you have to play with great pad level," Kancey said. "No defensive linemen play at 6'7". You got to bend at the point of attack and you got to play with good footwork or you are going to get moved around. My height didn't have anything to do with me playing at that position."
"I'm never worried about size, sometimes those bigger guys can get knocked off the ball quicker," said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. "He's not short, he's 6'1". He's not small. He's played big and this is big-boy football."
Kancey played big-boy football so well he became only the 15th Unanimous All-American in Pitt football history. The Miami native also was the only player to be a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophies.
As Kancey said, all of this coming from a guy 'that was overlooked, wasn't big enough, wasn't tall enough, wasn't strong enough. Now people are taking notice of my play'.
"He's developed in every respect, in every way," Narduzzi said. "You talk about motor and consistency, that might the place when he's most improved from when he was a baby. He would do a play and then take a couple off."
"I'm a great football player," Kancey said of what he would want NFL teams to know about him. "A great leader, someone you can depend on."
He would prefer that to be as a defensive end. Narduzzi said he believes Kancey's best fit is as a 4-3 defensive end, however adding the NFL teams he's talked to said they love pass rushers.
"A lot of teams like me," Kancey said. "I need to find someone that falls in love with me."
