Gators’ defensive tackle Chris McClellan found himself in the rotation along the defensive line throughout his true freshman season. The Oklahoma native appeared in all 13 games, totaling 23 tackles (7 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery across 269 snaps.
McClellan had to mentally prepare to contribute right away for the Gators.
“Honestly just coming in with a hard worker mentality,” McClellan said. ” I know I was coming into a good situation, but I didn’t let that sway my mindset, I was just gonna work hard, just like the example that was set by the guys in front of me and around me.”
“When they first came to me during the at-home visit, Coach Napier and Coach Juluke told me they were going to need me,” McClellan said. “So I had to be kinda mature and come in ready to play.”
McClellan spoke on some of the challenges he endured during his freshman season.
“It was more just getting up to speed with the game because high school ball and college are two different things, especially in the SEC,” McClellan said. “The speed of the game was the main difficulty for me. But once I got adjusted it was just natural, just football.”
McClellan is in the middle of his second spring football in Gainesville, and things are a little smoother this time around.
“Everything is slowing down for me,” McClellan said. “Last year, going into my first spring it was like, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Now it’s, OK, I know what to expect. So now I know I got to do this to get this result.”
The 6-3, 321-pound defensive tackle put an emphasis on his physical stature during the offseason.
“Going into Year 2 of course I have gotten bigger, stronger and faster being in the Identity program for the second time,” McClellan said. “I feel way stronger, way faster and smarter.”
“I definitely got way more explosive, more powerful, stronger since I’ve been here,” McClellan added. “The explosiveness from day one to now is off the charts.”
McClellan tells the media his bench press ranges from 400-425 pounds on a good day and that he’s a “600-pound squatter.”
Mclellan credits his off the field success to his nutrition and sleeping habits.
“I always had a fast metabolism, but closer to the end of high school I started slowing down,” McClellan said. “So when I got to college I really tried to lock in on my diet. The weight room is going to be there. But the nutrition is really the most important thing. And also I tried to improve my sleeping habits, which is a big, big help as well.”
Recently hired defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong brings a newfound aggressiveness to the Gators’ defense.
“We’re being more aggressive and we’re trying to come at you and we’re focused on making plays all across the board,” McClellan said.
Confidence is at an all-time high for the sophomore defensive tackle.
“I think we have one of the best and largest D-tackle groups in the nation, so I think we’re gonna have good middle push and B Gap control and everything you need,” McClellan said.
With Gervon Dexter on his way to the NFL, Chris McClellan will have a great opportunity to win a starting job alongside Desmond Watson and Cam Jackson.