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THE CLASS OF 2006 : Strong commitment
Baylors McClendon takes mystery out of decision early
By Stephen Hargis Prep Editor
He was only 30 minutes away, but Jacques McClendon never felt so far from home.
As a promising student-athlete, McClendon was given the chance to attend the Baylor School as one of three Bradley County recipients of the Summerfield Johnston scholarship. Among the requirements, however, was that McClendon become a boarding student, and he wasnt thrilled about leaving home for the first time and moving away from his mother, Stephanie.
The transition began his freshman year, when McClendon was barely 14. There were frequent phone calls home.
"Oh, my goodness, I probably called my mom six or seven times a day at first," McClendon said. "Even if it was just for a couple of minutes. Usually it was her telling me I could do it and that since I had made the decision to go to Baylor, I had to stick with it for at least a year.
"I didnt think I could do it then, but Im glad now that I did. I dont think I would be who I am now if I hadnt stayed. But I still call my mom every day and Ill always make sure I call her to say goodnight."
The unashamed "mamas boy" is a closet country music fan who listens to Toby Keith and Tim McGraw, and a certified PlayStation 2 junkie who has created himself as a Heisman-winning running back on "College Football 2005."
McClendon also is the states top high school football prospect for 2006, having committed a year early to playing for the University of Tennessee.
At 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, McClendon is built bigger than a mini van and last fall developed the kind of nasty attitude hell need to block in the trenches of the Southeastern Conference. During Baylors recent workouts, he bench pressed 440 pounds, squatted 650 and power-cleaned 315. "It took everybody in the weight room to spot him," Red Raiders coach David Bibee said. "When its his turn, we all just gather around him, because nobody can lift what he does."
McClendon didnt draw so many onlookers as a freshman.
"When he first came here, even though he was a big kid, he was embarrassed at how far behind he was in terms of strength," Bibee said. "Hes got a lot of pride and worked so hard to catch up that he nearly passed out every day. Last fall, he finally had the strength to make him feel confident, and he was dominant at times."
As a third-grader, McClendon wore size-10 shoes, and as an eighth-grader, he began receiving calls of interest from Auburn after working out at a summer camp. Last season he caught the eye of college coaches around the country, but even as the recruiting process had barely begun, he put aside offers from Auburn, Oklahoma and Miami by announcing he wanted to play for the Vols.
"My sophomore year I was the biggest, softest guy around," McClendon said. "I didnt want to hurt anybody since I was so much bigger. But then I realized this is football, the most physical sport there is, and its OK to be a nice guy off the field and a headhunter on it.
"When I watch college games, I know itll take some work for me to be as good as I want to be there. There are some freaks who can just step right in out of high school and play on the line, but I know Ill have to work hard for mine."
McClendon knew plenty about UT developing dominant players, but the selling point was the proximity to home.
Growing up, his aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors were all more than willing to help, but it was only the bond with his mother that gave McClendon something every kid needs, someone he didnt want to disappoint.
Entering last fall, it had been six years since McClendon had spoken to his father, former University of Tennessee quarterback Sterling Hinton. During a visit to the Tennessee-Auburn game in Knoxville, McClendon saw his father on the sidelines and worked up the courage to approach him.
"He went over and spoke to his dad briefly," Stephanie McClendon said. "It was only for a couple of minutes and Jacques came right back.
"I gave Sterling every chance to spend time with Jacques, but he never seemed interested. Hes missing out on a great kid."
According to his mother, McClendon has rarely dwelled on his fathers absence.
"When I was younger I used to worry a lot about why he didnt want to be around me," McClendon said. "Id see all my friends with their dad and it was hard for me. But the more I got to know about my so-called dad, the more I appreciated how blessed I am to be so close to my mom. Its made me more of a man, and now I know what to be like when I have a family of my own.
"Hopefully Ill make a bigger name for myself than he did while he was there. Being listed as one of the top players in the state just makes me want to work hard to prove that I deserve it."
Baylors McClendon takes mystery out of decision early
By Stephen Hargis Prep Editor
He was only 30 minutes away, but Jacques McClendon never felt so far from home.
As a promising student-athlete, McClendon was given the chance to attend the Baylor School as one of three Bradley County recipients of the Summerfield Johnston scholarship. Among the requirements, however, was that McClendon become a boarding student, and he wasnt thrilled about leaving home for the first time and moving away from his mother, Stephanie.
The transition began his freshman year, when McClendon was barely 14. There were frequent phone calls home.
"Oh, my goodness, I probably called my mom six or seven times a day at first," McClendon said. "Even if it was just for a couple of minutes. Usually it was her telling me I could do it and that since I had made the decision to go to Baylor, I had to stick with it for at least a year.
"I didnt think I could do it then, but Im glad now that I did. I dont think I would be who I am now if I hadnt stayed. But I still call my mom every day and Ill always make sure I call her to say goodnight."
The unashamed "mamas boy" is a closet country music fan who listens to Toby Keith and Tim McGraw, and a certified PlayStation 2 junkie who has created himself as a Heisman-winning running back on "College Football 2005."
McClendon also is the states top high school football prospect for 2006, having committed a year early to playing for the University of Tennessee.
At 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, McClendon is built bigger than a mini van and last fall developed the kind of nasty attitude hell need to block in the trenches of the Southeastern Conference. During Baylors recent workouts, he bench pressed 440 pounds, squatted 650 and power-cleaned 315. "It took everybody in the weight room to spot him," Red Raiders coach David Bibee said. "When its his turn, we all just gather around him, because nobody can lift what he does."
McClendon didnt draw so many onlookers as a freshman.
"When he first came here, even though he was a big kid, he was embarrassed at how far behind he was in terms of strength," Bibee said. "Hes got a lot of pride and worked so hard to catch up that he nearly passed out every day. Last fall, he finally had the strength to make him feel confident, and he was dominant at times."
As a third-grader, McClendon wore size-10 shoes, and as an eighth-grader, he began receiving calls of interest from Auburn after working out at a summer camp. Last season he caught the eye of college coaches around the country, but even as the recruiting process had barely begun, he put aside offers from Auburn, Oklahoma and Miami by announcing he wanted to play for the Vols.
"My sophomore year I was the biggest, softest guy around," McClendon said. "I didnt want to hurt anybody since I was so much bigger. But then I realized this is football, the most physical sport there is, and its OK to be a nice guy off the field and a headhunter on it.
"When I watch college games, I know itll take some work for me to be as good as I want to be there. There are some freaks who can just step right in out of high school and play on the line, but I know Ill have to work hard for mine."
McClendon knew plenty about UT developing dominant players, but the selling point was the proximity to home.
Growing up, his aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors were all more than willing to help, but it was only the bond with his mother that gave McClendon something every kid needs, someone he didnt want to disappoint.
Entering last fall, it had been six years since McClendon had spoken to his father, former University of Tennessee quarterback Sterling Hinton. During a visit to the Tennessee-Auburn game in Knoxville, McClendon saw his father on the sidelines and worked up the courage to approach him.
"He went over and spoke to his dad briefly," Stephanie McClendon said. "It was only for a couple of minutes and Jacques came right back.
"I gave Sterling every chance to spend time with Jacques, but he never seemed interested. Hes missing out on a great kid."
According to his mother, McClendon has rarely dwelled on his fathers absence.
"When I was younger I used to worry a lot about why he didnt want to be around me," McClendon said. "Id see all my friends with their dad and it was hard for me. But the more I got to know about my so-called dad, the more I appreciated how blessed I am to be so close to my mom. Its made me more of a man, and now I know what to be like when I have a family of my own.
"Hopefully Ill make a bigger name for myself than he did while he was there. Being listed as one of the top players in the state just makes me want to work hard to prove that I deserve it."
