Marcellas Dial
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Marcellas Dial
| image = File:Marcellas Dial.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Dial with the South Carolina football team in 2022
| number = 27
| position = Cornerback
| currentteam = New England Patriots
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|12|6}}
| birth_place = Woodruff, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 190
| high_school = Woodruff {{nowrap|(Woodruff, South Carolina)}}
| college = Georgia Military (2019–2020)
South Carolina (2021–2023)
| undraftedyear =
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 180
| pastteams =
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 =
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 =
| statvalue2 =
| pfr = D/DialMa00
}}
Marcellas Rashard Dial Jr. (born December 6, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Military College and for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Early life
Dial was born on December 6, 2000, and grew up in Woodruff, South Carolina.{{Cite web |title=Marcellas Dial |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/marcellas-dial/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |publisher=South Carolina Gamecocks}} He attended Woodruff High School but received little attention to play college football, ultimately signing with Georgia Military College.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell, Garrett |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Former Woodruff Football Star Fulfills Dream of Playing for Gamecocks |url=https://thewoodrufftimes.com/2021/01/05/former-woodruff-football-star-fulfills-dream-of-playing-for-gamecocks/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=The Woodruff Times}}
College career
As a freshman at Georgia Military in 2019, Dial totaled 10 tackles, one fumble recovery and an interception.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-index-journal/142524662/|newspaper=The Index-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 25, 2020|page=11|author=Kornblut, Phil|title=Gamecocks add junior college transfer}} {{Open access}} The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Dial transferred to the South Carolina Gamecocks for the 2021 season.{{Cite news |last=Boynton, Eric |date=April 15, 2021 |title=Former Woodruff football star Marcellas Dial could start right away for South Carolina |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/sports/2021/04/15/former-woodruff-corner-marcellas-dial-has-chance-start-south-carolina-gamecocks-football/7110935002/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal}}{{Cite news |last=Stone, Augusta |date=August 31, 2021 |title=South Carolina’s retooled secondary taking shape. JUCO transfer could play key role |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article253740748.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=The State}}{{Cite news |last=Cloninger, David |date=August 29, 2021 |title=Marcellas Dial steps into cornerback void left by Smith injury, Prunty transfer |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/carolina/marcellas-dial-steps-into-cornerback-void-left-by-smith-injury-prunty-transfer/article_ef6a8198-08bd-11ec-a50b-d7db7b5239ae.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=Post and Courier}} He had been ranked by 247Sports as the 51st-best junior college recruit nationally and the seventh-best cornerback.{{Cite news |last=Barnes, Micah |date=October 13, 2023 |title=The rundown: Key players for Mizzou and South Carolina |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/special_section/homecoming/the-rundown-key-players-for-mizzou-and-south-carolina/article_baaa52fc-5317-11ee-8488-c3d57b2658f6.html |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=Columbia Missourian}}
In his first year at South Carolina, Dial became a starter and appeared in 13 games, starting seven while posting 33 tackles, six pass deflections and a forced fumble.{{Cite web |last=Macheca, Joe |date=December 25, 2022 |title=Marcellas Dial embracing the role of primary Cornerback for South Carolina |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks/news/marcellas-dial-embracing-the-role-of-primary-cornerback-for-south-carolina/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=On3.com}} In 2022, he played 13 games, starting 10, and had 45 tackles while leading the team with 12 pass breakups and three interceptions.{{Cite news |last=Bezjak, Lou |date=April 4, 2023 |title=South Carolina without veteran defensive starter at latest spring football practice |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article273933535.html |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=The State}}{{Cite web |last=Griffin, Joseph |date=August 15, 2023 |title=How Marcellas Dial Can Fill The Void At Cornerback |url=https://www.si.com/college/southcarolina/football/marcellas-dial-can-fill-the-void-at-cornerback-for-south-carolina-football |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Sports Illustrated}} He returned for a final season in 2023 and had 36 tackles and 10 pass breakups. Dial was invited to participate at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.{{Cite web |last=McGranahan, Hale |date=March 1, 2024 |title=Dial putting together solid day at NFL Combine |url=https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/article/south-carolina-gamecocks-football-marcellas-dial-nfl-combine-227957975/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=247Sports}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 3/4
| weight = 190
| dash = 4.46
| ten split = 1.55
| twenty split = 2.61
| shuttle = 4.44
| cone drill = 7.29
| vertical = 40.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 9
| bench = 16
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 8 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/marcellas-dial/32004449-4131-7841-1bda-d307ef045f93 |title=Marcellas Dial Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 25, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1055889&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Marcellas Dial College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 25, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/gamecocksonline-com/2024/03/7589dfb9-south-carolina-pro-day-results.pdf |title=2024 South Carolina Pro Day Results |website=GameCocksOnline.com |access-date=April 13, 2024}}
}}
Dial was selected with the 180th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.{{Cite web |last=Buchmasser |first=Bernd |date=2024-04-27 |title=Patriots draft Marcellas Dial, CB, South Carolina with the 180th pick in Round 6 |url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2024/4/27/24142936/nfl-draft-results-2024-patriots-pick-marrcellas-dial-round-6 |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Pats Pulpit |language=en}} Dial signed his rookie contract with the Patriots on May 10, 2024.{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Patriots Sign Three of Their Eight 2024 Draft Picks and Sign Nine Rookie Free Agents |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-three-of-their-eight-2024-draft-picks-and-sign-nine-rookie-free-agents |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Patriots.com |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/marcellas-dial/ New England Patriots bio]
- [https://www.gmcbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2019-20/bios/dial_marcellas_z58k Georgia Military Bulldogs bio]
- [https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/marcellas-dial/ South Carolina Gamecocks bio]
{{New England Patriots roster navbox}}
{{Patriots2024DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dial, Marcellas}}
Category:Players of American football from Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Category:People from Woodruff, South Carolina
Category:American football cornerbacks