CLEVELAND -- Jameel McClain knows what it feels like to be hungry, to wonder where his next hot meal was coming from and to pray for a warm, safe place for him and his family to rest their heads at night.

Growing up on the mean streets of Philadelphia, the Baltimore Ravens' rookie linebacker was homeless for a year. When he was in middle school, he lived at a Salvation Army shelter with his mother, Barbara, and three siblings.

"My whole life has been one long fight," McClain said. "When you understand that you're an underdog, there aren't any surprises. I've always been an underdog. All I know how to do is fight."

McClain learned how to rely on himself, on his personal courage a long time ago.

His father was in prison until he was a senior in high school, so he regularly sought guidance from his older brother and his uncle.

"We have a tight family," McClain said. "We always stuck together."

McClain took out his frustrations at life's travails as a boxer in Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves competition, winning six of his seven amateur bouts as boxing legend Joe Frazier advised him on the sweet science.

Ultimately, McClain decided that football and academics would create a pathway out of a rough neighborhood and he hung up his boxing gloves and laced up his cleats on a full scholarship at Syracuse.

The 23-year-old became the first member of his family to graduate from college, completing a dual major in communications and rhetorical studies and sociology. Undrafted after being a semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks award given to the nation's best defensive lineman, McClain beat the odds to make the final roster.

He never stopped hustling, impressing the coaching staff with his tackling, pass-rushing skills and willingness to sacrifice his body.

"I feel blessed in so many ways," McClain said. "Life only gives you so many chances, so you have to take advantage of them."

Last week, McClain received perfect grades in seven defensive snaps as he recorded a safety when he sacked Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell in a 29-10 victory. It was quite a debut.

"I think our scouts did a great job of finding him, first of all," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We found out that he's a football player. He's a guy that's very versatile, he gets off blocks, he can make tackles, just a good defensive football player."

Ignored during the seven rounds of the draft, McClain became a priority for the Ravens. They liked his grittiness, his smarts and his versatility.

So, they recruited him heavily with general manager Ozzie Newsome convincing him to sign with Baltimore over competing offers from the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. McClain was their top defensive target as an undrafted free agent.

"We threw the big hitters at him, and we were fortunate to get him," defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. "We like the way he plays the game. We never realized he was going to be this smart and could learn our system, which is fairly complicated if you're learning multiple spots. He picked it up really well."

At 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, McClain is a classic hybrid who blends 'tweener size with gritty toughness.

And he's intelligent enough that he has learned how to play inside and outside linebacker. In a pinch, McClain could even put his hand down in the dirt and play defensive end.

“Jameel is a true Raven,” middle linebacker Ray Lewis said. “He is always after the ball. He comes to work with his hard hat every day. You just love to see kids step in and make plays like that.”

McClain's determination has been obvious from the first day he arrived at the Ravens' training complex this spring.

Grateful for where life has taken him, he's looking forward to bagging groceries and signing autographs Monday night at the Westminster Shoppers to kick off the Ravens' annual food drive. All proceeds go toward the Maryland Food Bank.

McClain still knows what it's like to want something. Now that he has a burgeoning football career within his grasp, he'll still never forget where he came from.

Some things just can't be erased. While hard times have toughened his resolve, it hasn't erased the smile from his face. 

McClain is having the time of his life.

"I will never quit anything," McClain said. "I've been through too much to get here. So, I just want to enjoy every minute of this. This is my dream. Like I said before, I've been blessed."

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.