Former Baylor School standout Jacques McClendon has grown into a solid
football player as a starting offensive guard for the Tennessee Vols.

However, what seems to stand out for him is how he has grown as a person in
college.

“I’ve grown as a man,” he said as he stood on the edge of Haslam Field in
Knoxville Wednesday following practice. “It’s been a lot of trials and tribulations.

“I had a lot of growing up to do. Without this experience (of playing
football at Tennessee), I don’t know if I would have grown.”

McClendon – a senior who will play his last regular season game as a
Volunteer Saturday at Kentucky -- admitted he went through some hard times in high school.

As was documented in the news at the time, he ended up having to withdraw
from Baylor late in his senior year and enrolled at Walker Valley.

He said his faith in God has helped him mature since he came to Tennessee
and made him realize that challenging situations can work themselves out
positively.

“I know when it rains, there is a rainbow at the end,” he said.

He also feels blessed to be able to play college football.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere without the talent He gave me,” he said.

McClendon has used his talents to be a regular since not long after arriving at Tennessee in 2006. He had his first start in the Outback Bowl against Penn State his freshman year.

The following season, in 2007, he recovered an offensive fumble in a late Tennessee drive against South Carolina and helped propel the Vols to an overtime win.

This year, he has again been one of the key members of the offensive line.

An economics major, McClendon said he would love to play in the National
Football League, but for now is concentrating on finishing out this season.

Although his experience at Tennessee has been one in which the team went
from the turmoil of last year’s losing season to the hiring of Lane Kiffin to replace the ousted Phillip Fulmer, McClendon has been consistently grateful.

"It’s been a transition for sure, but I thank the Lord that Coach Fulmer
thought I was talented enough to come here to play and I thank Coach Kiffin
for allowing me to continue.”

McClendon added that he is also glad he chose to play at Tennessee.

“I’ve got no regrets,” he said. “I made the choice so I could stay close to my mother (Stephanie McClendon). She is only one hour away (in Cleveland). Other than my relationship with God, my mother is the most important thing in my life.”

As many Chattanoogans know, McClendon is not the only former Baylor player
to be helping Tennessee offensively this year.

Fullback Kevin Cooper is also a regular contributor, and last Saturday
against Vanderbilt, former Red Raider Devin Mathis kicked four extra points
and a field goal in a Rudy-like debut.

The last time so many Baylor alumni were playing key roles on the same
college team was likely when Billy Teas, Leon Hardeman, Dave Bristol and
Glenn Turner all played in the backfield on some of the great Georgia Tech teams of the early 1950s.

McClendon – who actually rooms in an apartment with Baylor graduate and
former soccer standout Chris Bach -- said he is proud of both of his former
schoolmates.

He considers Cooper like a little brother, remembering that he was his host at Baylor when Cooper visited the school before enrolling. He said Cooper has done a good job as primarily a blocking fullback after being more of a featured back at Baylor.

And Mathis demonstrated last Saturday what he could do, McClendon added.

“He came out and handled the pressure,” he said. ‘That showed what he is made of.”

McClendon said that he is proud of his experience of having gone to Baylor, adding that the college preparatory classes have helped him at UT.

He also remembers fondly the positive influence of several school staff
members, including assistant football coach Gary Partrick.

“He really looked out for me and still looks out for me,” he said.

Other current or former staff members who helped him were head football
coach David Bibee, strength coach Dave Reynolds, basketball coach Austin
Clark, and guidance counselor Donna Robinson and her husband, Rob, among
others, he said.

Although McClendon has had a few bumps and bruises on and off the field, the whole journey from high school to a high-profile major college football program has been special for him, he added.

“I’m proud of where I started and where I am about to finish,” he said.

jcshearer2@comcast.net