Getting to Know Running Back Dexter McCluster, the Person and the Player

Recently having the pleasure to grab a one-on-one interview with second year Kansas City Chiefs’ player, Dexter McCluster, I was already aware of what a good football player he is on the field.  However, I was more impressed when I got an inside look to what an even better person he is off the field.

Known for his small stature, speed, play making ability and versatility; McCluster is also a humble and soft-spoken family man, with a big heart and kind personality.

Spending time chatting with McCluster, we discussed everything, including his time with the Chiefs, his alma mater Ole Miss, his family, most notably his five-year old daughter, and philanthropy. 

With a positive attitude and openness to learn, it’s hard to not think McCluster will have a successful career.

Kansas City Chiefs

Facing numerous key injuries and their fair share of adversity this year, the Kansas City Chiefs were shaken up this season from day one.  Forced to adapt, McCluster believes the challenges have allowed the team to learn and grow stronger as a unit.

“Going through the hard times, losing the first three games of the season, really showed our character because we never gave up.  We kept pushing and kept pushing, and ultimately we won four games straight after that.  So, seeing the lows and the highs, we’ve learned what we have to do to keep things going around here.  I believe the team camaraderie is at an ultimate high right now.”

For McCluster personally, the injuries have meant stepping into a bigger role at running back, something that the young player embraces.

“We lost a lot of key guys due to injuries, as everybody knows, but this is the National Football League and the next person has to be ready to step up no matter what.”

A wide receiver and running back threat, McCluster has no problem being thrown in wherever the team needs him.

“I don’t actually have a preference.  I would say, being a running back all my life and then going to college and transitioning from running back to a receiver really helped my game elevate. So now, in the NFL, I feel comfortable at running back, comfortable at wide receiver or wherever it may be.  Honestly, it just makes me more versatile, and anyway I can help the team, I’m willing to do it.”

McCluster says that 12 year NFL veteran, Thomas Jones, has been a great mentor to him since he has been with the team.

“I really look up to him [Jones] and he’s really been helping me out throughout this season.  That’s the guy that I definitely connect with.”

Having been able to sustain a long career as a running back, Jones has not only taught McCluster the ins-and-outs of playing running back in the NFL, but also the importance of taking care of his body.

“You learn something new every year, and one thing I’ve learned from playing running back, as compared to receiver, is that you take a lot more hits and you have to do a lot more blocking. So, ultimately in the offseason, I want to get my body in the best shape that I possibly can, maybe gain a little bit more weight and just be a playmaker.  Not try to do too much, but be myself and make things happen.”

With goals of his own of being a great playmaker, McCluster said he often draws comparisons from the Chiefs’ coaching staff to Saints’ versatile running back, Darren Sproles.

“They know that I’m capable of making things happen and making big plays and they want to see a little more of that so they may joke with me and say, ‘Oh Darren Sproles would have made that,’ for a little extra motivation.”

McCluster says the coaches have high expectations for him and comparing him to some of the top guys in the league at his position is just a way of showing him how he can succeed at the same level. In the future, McCluster plans to be the guy being used as an example for younger players.

College Career at Ole Miss

 A star at Ole Miss in his last two seasons of his college career, McCluster has nothing but good things to say about former Ole Miss coach, Houston Nutt, who was recently let go by the university. 

“Honestly, Coach Nutt, that was my guy, I really liked him.  He was a great players’ coach and he really cared about the players.  In the last two years that I had with him of my college career, I learned a lot from him, not only in football, but off the field too.  He was a very spiritual guy who really helped me, so I have a lot of respect for him.”

As a freshman and a sophomore, playing under then head coach Ed Orgeron, McCluster dealt with injuries and totaled just 14 carries and 131 yards rushing, and 42 receptions and 558 yards receiving.  Meanwhile the team went 7-17 in his first two years.

During his last two seasons, under new head coach, Houston Nutt, McCluster emerged as a star. 

As a junior he accumulated seven touchdowns on 655 rushing yards and 625 receiving yards, he was named 2^nd Team All-SEC, and won MVP of the Cotton Bowl, leading his team to a 47-34 victory over #8 Texas Tech. 

His senior season he set numerous records, including being the first player in SEC history to rush for over 1,000 yards and receive for 500 yards in a single season.  Once again, the team won the Cotton Bowl, this time defeating #10 Oklahoma, and once again, McCluster was named game MVP. That season he also received All American honors to go along with All-SEC honors for the second year in a row.

McCluster said going to the Cotton Bowl and receiving the Cotton Bowl MVP in his last two years is one of his top memories.

He gives Nutt and his staff much of the credit for his for his success as a Rebel, which inevitably allowed him the opportunity to take his game to the next level.

“I really enjoyed my two years with Coach Nutt and he put me in a position to get recognized and get noticed by some of the NFL scouts. I think he’s a great coach, I’m sad to see him leave and I don’t know why they let a guy like him go, but you know I guess they feel change was needed.”

As far as his other fondest memories from his time at Ole Miss; McCluster said he always enjoyed the walks on gameday through the Grove, which was the tailgate spot on campus for all of the fans.

“It’s called the Walk of Champions and we’ll high five all the fans going through there.  It kind of gives you that extra motivation that you need for the game so that was kind of cool.”

He also noted his first college touchdown, in which he scored on a trick play called “the McCluster Fluster.”

“Since I’m 5’8” I’m kind of short, so I hid behind the line and they put the ball between my leg. It’s my first college game, I’m 17 years old and I score my first touchdown on a trick play, that’s a great memory.”

There was one memory from 2009, when McCluster had one of the single best individual games in SEC history, which I was shocked, but happy, to hear left out.  That was a 324-yard, four touchdown performance against none other than my alma mater, Tennessee.  However, once reminded, he quickly added that to the list as well.

“You know what, I forget about that. I don’t why I keep forgetting about that, but that was one of my greatest games in my college career. You can leave that out if you want [joking].”

Family and Philanthropy

 Talking with McCluster for just five minutes, you’ll quickly sense his gracious and kind-natured spirit as he expresses his love for his family, adoration of his daughter, and passion to share his goodwill, especially when it comes to kids.

McCluster has spent a lot of time in the community and giving back, and although he does not yet have a foundation, he said a plan for the future definitely includes something to do with children.

“I love kids.  Especially having a five-year-old daughter of my own, I love kids and I love helping.  Anything I run across having to do with kids I’m going to give back and do whatever I can. ”

In college, McCluster worked with a number of non-profit organizations, including one by the name of Angel Ranch, where they took in abused and neglected children in effort to make a better life for them.

Within the next year or so, McCluster would like to set up something where he can bring different groups of less fortunate kids and families to home Chiefs games each week.

“I want to take a bunch of kids that aren’t able to come to football games, or have never met the team, to come every week so they can get the NFL experience and feel that somebody out there cares for me.  That’s something I want to do.”

For the next home game though, McCluster’s guests will be his family.  With the holidays just around the corner, McCluster is flying everyone to town so that they can enjoy the time together.  

“I’m going to spend time with the family and hopefully I can fulfill all of my daughters needs, because she wants a lot of stuff for Christmas. “

Like many little girls, Justin Bieber is at the top of her list, along with a few other extravagant wishes. 

“She wants Justin Bieber action figures. I don’t know if I can even find that, then she actually wants a limo ride for her and her friends.  At five, I don’t know what she knows about a limo, but she said, ‘I want to take my friends, I want to go everywhere. I want to go to Kansas City, I want to go to Florida.’”

While a cross-country limo trip might be a little much, she is daddy’s little girl, and McCluster says he will do his best to give her what she wants.

Athletes like Dexter McCluster can be hard to come by.  When I finished the interview, I couldn’t help but think about how grateful I was to have had the chance to interview such a stand-up guy.  Before I could pick up my phone to shoot him a text thanking him once again, a text was already coming in, from McCluster, thanking me for the opportunity.