Quarterback Jalan McClendon confident in his abilities
NC State redshirt sophomore quarterback Jalan McClendon is getting his chance to show what he has learned at the Kay Yow Spring Game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The 6-foot-5, 212-pounder with a cannon of a right arm has been dutifully learning from new offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz this spring. Drinkwitz is full of energy while McClendon has more of a mellow persona, but McClendon claimed he can crank it up between the white lines.
“He’s pretty energetic and the same guy every day,” McClendon said. “He is never up or down. He is always up.
“Off the field I’m a chill guy, but on the field I am an energetic and electric guy. I want to come out here and compete.”
McClendon said that he has used the spring to get a better grasp of the offense and to go through the various progressions and reads.
“I’m just doing what the coaches want me to do,” McClendon said. “I’d say there is more control on the quarterback. He’s just putting it all on you.”
The former Rivals.com three-star prospect was the No. 18 pro-style quarterback in the country in the class of 2014. He threw for around 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns for Charlotte (N.C.) West Mecklenburg High, and he was a hotly pursued signal caller. NC State tight ends/fullbacks coach and co-special teams coordinator Eddie Faulkner did a superb job of keeping McClendon’s commitment firm while colleges such as Tennessee tried to pry him loose.
The 2015 Kay Yow Spring Game gave McClendon, who estimated he can throw a ball 73 yards, a chance to air it out. He went 16-of-35 passing for 144 yards and rushed seven times for negative-20 yards while playing for both the Red team and White squad.
McClendon followed up by playing in seven games last fall in mop-up duty. He went 8-of-14 passing for 69 yards with a long of 21 yards, and he rushed five times for 11 yards. Playing in his second spring game is the next step in the process.
“I just want to go out there and show what I can do,” said McClendon. “The coaches trust me, and that is all that I really need.
“I believe in myself more than anybody else does. I believe the team believes that I can be the quarterback.”
McClendon found out Tuesday that legendary former NC State quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers would be in town for the spring game. McClendon knows he could be next in line following the recent NFL lineage of Rivers, Russell Wilson, Mike Glennon and potentially Jacoby Brissett. The latter is expected to get drafted April 28-30.
“Even before I came here, it’s ‘Quarterback University’” McClendon said. “I have always thought about it and just the tradition they had. It’s a great atmosphere to be around.”
McClendon doesn’t want to be slowed down by any extra pressure of who has come before him.
“I try not to worry about that and just worry about what I can do right now,” said McClendon.
There is one other NFL quarterback that has captured the imagination of the Queen City product. McClendon has long been a big fan of Carolina Panthers superstar signal caller Cam Newton.
“He is just a phenomenal player, who can do it with both his feet and his arm,” McClendon said. “He can make great throws and lead the team. He is just a phenomenal athlete.”
Whether it's like a former NCSU star quarterback or like Newton, the NFL's MVP last season, Wolfpack coaches are hoping that McClendon starts showing some pro skills himself, especially Saturday.
Read more about NC State’s practices in The Wolfpacker’s spring football headquarters