Maine man Mr. Irrelevant

In the relative lifespan of a football career, the amount of time it took for Kevin McMahan to focus on an NFL future was about as minuscule as his clocking in the 40-yard dash.

“To be honest with you, I’ve thought about [the NFL] since I was in high school,” said McMahan, a receiver out of the University of Maine who became Mr. Irrelevant XXXI on Sunday, when he was chosen with the 255th and final pick of the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

His pro football premonition was even more remarkable considering McMahan did not play football until he was a senior at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, N.Y.

“I was all-state in basketball, so I thought I was a pretty good player,” said McMahan, whose time of 4.38 seconds in the 40 endeared him to speed-craving Raiders owner Al Davis. “But after playing football my senior year [he helped lead his team to a state title and was named MVP of the championship game], it seemed like a guy my size [now 6-foot-2, 200 pounds] could do better in football.”

McMahan went off to Maine, an NCAA Division I-AA power at the time, and put together four solid seasons. In 44 games, he amassed 130 receptions for 1,995 yards and 25 touchdowns. As a senior last fall, he posted career highs in receptions (59), receiving yards (893) and touchdowns (13).

“My time at Maine was great,” said McMahan, who will be celebrated in Newport Beach during the annual Irrelevant Week festivities, tentatively scheduled for June 11-17. “I didn’t have much of a football background and they took a chance on me.”

McMahan said Sunday he had not heard much about the Irrelevant Week festivities, but from what he had learned, it sounded like fun.

He said it will also be fun to try to learn as much as he can from Raiders wideout Randy Moss.

“I think Oakland is an awesome situation for me,” McMahan said. “I think I have a great chance to make the team, because of what I bring to the football field. There are not a lot of guys who have the type of combination of speed and size I do. I think it’s kind of funny that Randy Moss is one of those guys. I know I can learn a lot from him.”

McMahan, 23, a third-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference pick in ‘05, said he could also benefit from some extra motivation.

“Coming from a Division I-AA program, I think I have a chip on my shoulder to prove myself against guys from bigger schools,” McMahan said. I feel like the coaches will take that into consideration.”

By virtue of his impending Irrelevant Week visit, McMahan becomes linked with the Newport-Mesa football community. Two players with similar ties also learned Sunday they will get the chance to fulfill their NFL dreams.

Jesse Mahelona, a former standout defensive tackle at Orange Coast College who went on to earn All-American honors at the University of Tennessee, was drafted in the fifth round (169th overall) by the Tennessee Titans.

Mahelona (6-0 1/2 , 311), will try to make the jump from Knoxville to Nashville after he was the 12th defensive tackle drafted.

Only the second former OCC player drafted since 1995 (punter Eddie Johnson was chosen in the sixth round in 2003 by the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he played one season), Mahelona was immediately listed No. 3 on the team’s depth chart at right defensive tackle.

OCC Coach Mike Taylor said he is proud of Mahelona’s success.

“He has worked hard to be where he is at,” said Taylor, who along with some of his assistant coaches, ventured to Knoxville to see the Volunteers play Georgia during the Pirates’ bye week last season.

“Jesse was very popular here and he still stays in touch with the coaches and some players here,” Taylor said. “He has that contagious smile that a lot of people warm up to.”

Taylor said Mahelona is scheduled to graduate in June.

Another former local standout, Newport Harbor High product Chris Manderino, said Sunday he expects to sign a free-agent contract today with the Cincinnati Bengals.

“My agents are still hammering out some of the details,” said Manderino, who was a four-year starter at fullback for Cal, where he began as a walk-on.