McCarthy preps for Senior Bowl

Notre Dame senior strong safety Kyle McCarthy from Youngstown is hoping to use the Under Armour Senior Bowl as another stepping stone into the NFL.

“I feel like I have a lot to prove to the scouts and all the people in the NFL and I hope to use the Senior Bowl to show them that I am a well-rounded athlete,” said McCarthy, a Cardinal Mooney High graduate who was among three Irish players selected to play in the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl on Jan. 30.

He will be joined by center Eric Olsen and right tackle Sam Young for the annual senior classic at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The game has a 3 p.m. kickoff and will be televised by NFL Network.

McCarthy, whose brother Dan, is a sophomore free safety for Notre Dame, will bring impressive defensive credentials into the Senior Bowl, which has become college football’s premier NFL pre-draft event.

It annually showcases the nation’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by NFL coaching staffs.

McCarthy has demonstrated great instinct getting to the ball carrier and pass receiver, and is coming off of his second straight outstanding season.

He is rated No. 21 among strong safeties by Phil Steele, and a projected NFL draft pick for April.

Also a team captain, McCarthy led Notre Dame in tackles this year with 101, after registering 110 stops the previous season as a junior, to become the first defensive back in school history to record consecutive 100-plus tackle seasons.

And McCarthy’s 240 career tackles rank No. 2 among defensive backs in school history.

In addition, he has five interceptions this year to tie for No. 19 in the nation.

But despite his success, Notre Dame managed only a 6-6 record this season under coach Charlie Weis, including losses in its last four games. Weis was replaced at the helm by Brian Kelly on Dec. 10. Kelly went 12-0 at Cincinnati this year.

McCarthy is looking forward to showing NFL scouts that he has the defensive skills to succeed in the NFL. He will have a great setting in which to make himself visible.

Senior Bowl practices and game week festivities are attended by more than 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 National Football League teams, all of which make the week-long event a one-of-a-kind NFL Coaches Convention.

Olsen and Young also are looking forward to the bowl and an opportunity to display their wares.

“It’s a great opportunity for me, Kyle and Sam to play with some of the great players in the country,” said Olson, Notre Dame’s offensive co-captain this season who can play multiple positions on the offensive line.

Olsen had 31 career starts and made the Sporting News All-American third team.

Young, whose 50 career starts are the most in school history, is elated to be picked to the Senior Bowl.

“I’ve talked to both Eric and Kyle and when we found out that we were ecstatic. It’s an opportunity to not only showcase your ability but also to go up against the best of the best,” said Young, the only Notre Dame offensive lineman to start every game since his freshman year.

McCarthy, the son of John and Janet McCarthy, already has graduated from the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame with a degree in finance. He currently is enrolled in the graduate studies program.

The McCarthy family has a long tradition at Notre Dame. Kyle and Dan are following an older brother, Brian McCarthy, who also attended the school and graduated in 2006.

And the brothers’ grandfather, Jack Mayo (Janet’s father), also is a Notre Dame graduate who played baseball there from 1944-47 and was team captain his final year.

XJohn Kovach writes about college athletes for The Vindicator. Write him at kovach@vindy.com.