Dexter McCluster facts for kids
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McCluster at the 2010 Ole Miss spring game
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| No. 22, 33 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 25, 1988 Largo, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Largo | ||||||||||||
| College: | Ole Miss (2006–2009) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Dexter Marquise McCluster (born August 25, 1988) is a former professional football player from the United States. He played as a running back and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). Dexter played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, and San Diego Chargers. He also played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels. The Chiefs picked him in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. Later, he played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Toronto Argonauts. He also played for the Massachusetts Pirates in the National Arena League (NAL).
Dexter's Early Life and Sports
Dexter McCluster grew up in Largo, Florida. He went to Largo High School. There, he was a good student and played three sports: football, basketball, and track.
High School Football Star
In football, Dexter was amazing. In his junior year, he ran for 1,424 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. As a senior in 2005, he led the Largo Packers to win the District Championship. That year, he rushed for an incredible 2,490 yards and scored 39 touchdowns! He was named First-team All-State 5A. He was also named All-Suncoast Player of the Year.
Track and Field Achievements
Dexter was also a talented track and field athlete. He was good at jumping events. He could long jump 6.94 meters and high jump 1.99 meters. He also ran sprints, with times like 11.53 seconds in the 100 meters.
College Football Career
Dexter McCluster played college football at the University of Mississippi for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Starting Strong at Ole Miss
In 2006, as a freshman, Dexter started five games. He caught 15 passes for 232 yards and scored two touchdowns. In 2007, his sophomore year, he played in eight games. He had 326 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Becoming an All-SEC Player
By his junior year in 2008, Dexter was a key player. He earned second-team All-SEC honors. He ran for 655 yards and caught passes for 625 yards. He scored seven touchdowns that season.
Record-Breaking Senior Year
Dexter's senior year in 2009 was full of highlights. He set two school records in one game against Tennessee. He rushed for 282 yards and had 324 all-purpose yards. In his last home game, he ran for 148 yards. He even threw his only college touchdown pass in a win against LSU.
He finished his senior year with 1,169 rushing yards and 520 receiving yards. He scored 12 total touchdowns. He was the only player in SEC history to run for over 1,000 yards and receive for over 500 yards in one season. Dexter ended his college career with 3,685 total yards and 23 touchdowns.
Professional Football Journey
Dexter McCluster became a professional football player in 2010.
Joining the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs picked Dexter as the 36th overall player in the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract with them.
First NFL Touchdown
Dexter scored his first NFL touchdown in his very first game on September 13, 2010. It was a 94-yard punt return against the San Diego Chargers. This made him the youngest Chiefs player to score a touchdown, a record he still holds.
A few weeks later, he caught a 31-yard pass for his first offensive touchdown. This meant he was both the youngest and second-youngest Chiefs player to score a touchdown. In 2012, he scored his first NFL rushing touchdown, helping the Chiefs win 7-3 against the Denver Broncos.
Playing for the Tennessee Titans
In 2014, Dexter signed a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. He played for them for two seasons. The Titans released him in September 2016.
Time with the San Diego Chargers
Dexter then joined the San Diego Chargers in September 2016. However, he was placed on a special injury list due to a fractured forearm.
Adventures in Canadian Football
On July 16, 2018, Dexter signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He played in four games during the 2018 season. He had 117 rushing yards and 111 receiving yards. The Argonauts released him in May 2019.
Playing for the Massachusetts Pirates
Dexter McCluster's last professional team was the Massachusetts Pirates in the National Arena League. He signed with them on May 15, 2019. He played in 6 games, catching 19 passes for 159 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns.
