Georgia OT has perfect tools
Looking for the total package in an offensive tackle? Then Norcross, Ga., standout Matt McClernan is your man.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle has the perfect frame to get up to 300 pounds easily. He has good footwork and pass protection technique. He's also one of the smartest linemen in the nation - sporting a 3.8 grade-point average and a 1380 on the SAT.
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"I didn't have a great season last year because I switched from tight end to offensive tackle," McClernan said. "I didn't really get the hang of it until about the third or fourth game that I was there. I felt like I had to work hard to make a name for myself this summer and this season."
"I had to work hard on getting lower. At tight end you don't have to be as aggressive, but tackle is a lot different. You have to stay low and engaged with guys for much longer. You have to get used to coming off hard and low."
And McClernan worked hard on all of that, and after a strong summer and early part of the season, he finally began to feel comfortable with the offensive tackle spot.
Then all of a sudden, the college coaches started to take notice and the scholarship offers started to come in.
"They really didn't start coming in until midway through," McClernan said. "A lot of coaches saw me in the spring and probably liked my size and they wanted to see me get more physical.
"And I think I have."
And so has the college attention.
McClernan has earned scholarship offers from North Carolina and Northwestern. He is also getting heavy attention from Stanford and Clemson.
He's also lined up four visits - UNC on Jan. 11, Northwestern on Dec. 7, Stanford on Jan. 18 and Clemson on Jan. 25.
"I really am wide open at this point," he said. "I'd enjoy going about anywhere. Just as long as it has a good business program."