South Florida Linebacker Heading North

University of South Florida linebacker Tyrone McKenzie is scheduled to visit the New York Giants on Wednesday and the New England Patriots on Thursday, according to a league source. McKenzie had a private workout for the Patriots last month. A projected second-round or third-round draft pick, McKenzie visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday and the New Orleans Saints last week. McKenzie began his career at Michigan State and was projected to start as a sophomore, but moved home to care for his mother after she was injured in an accident at work. He worked in a hotel to help support his family. “It helps you grow up,” McKenzie told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. “It helps you realize you have to grow up because my father died when I was nine and just being the man of the house helped me mature as a man and helped me in the situation I’m in right now. Transitioning into the NFL, I’m going to have a step on a lot of people.” McKenzie transferred to Iowa State and was named second-team All-Big 12 before transferring to South Florida to be closer to home. At South Florida, he was named All-Big East Conference last season as he recorded 116 tackles. The 6'2,” 243-pounder bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times at the NFL Scouting Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds before pulling his hamstring on his second attempt. He had a 32 1/2 inch vertical leap at his Pro Day workout. At the Senior Bowl, McKenzie led the North team with six solo tackles and one assist.