Football
McClendon, Bryan
Bryan McClendon
- Title:
- Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers
A 14-year coaching veteran of the SEC and one of the nation’s top recruiters, Bryan McClendon joined head coach Mario Cristobal’s staff in 2020 as pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
McClendon spent the previous two seasons as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. His four years in Columbia were preceded by nine seasons on the staff at Georgia, where he was part of 85 wins and a pair of SEC East titles.
Named the National Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports in 2014, McClendon was the running backs coach at Georgia for six seasons (2009-14) before taking over the wide receivers room in 2015 while serving as passing game coordinator. He was also Georgia’s recruiting coordinator the last two seasons and was the program’s interim head coach during the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl win over Penn State.
Oregon (2020-Present)
In his first season as Oregon’s pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach, McClendon helped the Ducks to their second consecutive Pac-12 championship and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
Oregon’s passing game featured a balanced group of pass catchers that had six different players in the top 47 of the Pac-12 Conference in receiving yards, including three of the top 12. Sophomore Devon Williams led the Ducks, and finished 10th in the league, with 286 yards receiving. He also ranked second among Pac-12 players averaging 19.07 yards per catch and tied for the most 100-yard receiving games with two.
Six Ducks, including three of McClendon’s receivers, ranked in the top 27 in receiving touchdowns in the Pac-12 with three Oregon players ranking in the top five. With the season shortened to just seven games because of COVID-19, Oregon had five players finish with double-digit catches led by senior Jaylon Redd’s 25 grabs. Fellow senior Johnny Johnson III, an honorable mention all-conference pick, added 19 receptions.
South Carolina (2016-19)
McClendon served as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator his final two seasons while coaching the wide receivers all four years in Columbia. Named co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach when he was hired in 2016, McClendon made his play-calling debut for the Gamecocks in the 26-19 win over Michigan in the 2018 Outback Bowl, in which South Carolina scored 23 unanswered points in the second half.
Weeks after the Outback Bowl win, McClendon was promoted to offensive coordinator and in the 2018 season the Gamecocks averaged 30.1 points and 425.6 yards per game, good for the program’s most since 2014. Carolina set a program record with five games of 500 yards or more of total offense, including back-to-back 600-yard performances against Chattanooga and at No. 1 Clemson.
McClendon helped take a youthful position room upon arrival in 2016 and turn it into one of the SEC’s strongest wideout groups. Deebo Samuel turned in a pair of strong seasons under McClendon’s guidance, highlighted by All-America honors in 2018 before being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Samuel returned from a season-ending injury as a senior in 2018 to finish second in the SEC with 11 receiving TDs and was joined by junior Bryan Edwards to make up one of two duos in the SEC with 55-plus catches.
A Freshman All-American after his first season with McClendon, Edwards finished his career as South Carolina’s all-time leader in receptions (234) and receiving yards (3,045), marks that finished tied for third and fourth, respectively, in SEC history. Edwards caught a pass in all 48 games played over his four seasons and finished third among Carolina’s career leaders with 22 TD grabs.
In McClendon’s first year as OC in 2018, quarterback Jake Bentley finished third in program history with 27 TD passes and fourth with 3,171 yards through the air while setting a new school record with five completions of 70 or more yards. Bentley set South Carolina single-game records for TD passes (5) and passing yards (510) at Clemson en route to becoming just the fourth SEC QB with 500 yards passing in a road game since 2000.
Georgia (2007-15)
McClendon returned to his alma mater to begin his coaching career and was a major part in Georgia winning 10 or more games six times in his nine seasons on the staff.
From 2009-15 when McClendon was a full-time member of the staff, the Bulldogs averaged 33.4 points per game which was the second most in the SEC over that seven-year span. McClendon was part Georgia’s staff that helped the Bulldogs lead the SEC in scoring offense (41.3) in 2014 for just the third time since 1982, highlighted by 44.3 points per game in four SEC road contests.
From 2011-14, the Bulldogs put together four of the top six seasons in program history in total offense and three of the top five seasons for total TDs.
After two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant, McClendon was promoted to running backs coach in 2009. McClendon recruited and developed some of the nation’s best running backs over his five seasons, including Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Isaiah Crowell.
A pair of freshmen were the featured running backs in McClendon’s group during Georgia’s back-to-back SEC Eastern Division title in 2011 and 2012. After landing the nation’s top running back in the 2011 class, McClendon helped Crowell make an immediate impact en route to being named the 2011 SEC Freshman of the Year. Crowell led Georgia and was third among Power 5 freshmen with 850 yards on the ground.
The next season, Gurley arrived and led all freshman running backs nationally with 1,385 yards and 17 TDs that included seven 100-yard games against SEC opponents. Gurley became just the third freshman running back to earn All-SEC first-team honors since 1987.
McClendon’s running backs room was crowded with future NFL stars in 2014, as Georgia went on to lead the SEC in rushing for the first time since 1992 with 3,352 yards and 38 TDs, which rank second and third most, respectively, in program history.
Despite starting just eight games, Nick Chubb finished second in the SEC in rushing (1,547 yards) and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Chubb and Gurley (911 yards in six games) gave Georgia one of five FBS running back duos with over 900 yards rushing in 2014, while Sony Michel rushed for 410 yards on just 64 carries.
Prior to the start of the 2015 season, McClendon was promoted to assistant head coach by Mark Richt and took over as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in addition to starting his second year as Georgia’s recruiting coordinator. McClendon’s first class (2015) as recruiting coordinator was ranked No. 6 nationally by 247Sports and Rivals.
Playing Career
Part of a senior class that won the most games (44) in Georgia history, highlighted three SEC Eastern Division titles (2002, ‘03, ‘05), two SEC championships (2002,‘05), and played in four bowl games (2003 Nokia Sugar, ‘04 Capital One, ‘05 Outback, ‘06 Nokia Sugar), winning three.
McClendon was a key piece in the Bulldogs’ SEC title run in 2005. The Atlanta, Ga., native hauled in 35 catches for 529 yards and a team-high six TDs in 2005, highlighted by the game-winning TD grab with 3:18 left at Georgia Tech. In the SEC Championship Game, McClendon blocked a punt that led to Georgia’s third touchdown in a 34-14 win over LSU.
COACHING CAREER
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2020 Pac-12 Conference – Oregon (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2012 SEC East – Georgia (Running Backs Coach)
2011 SEC East – Georgia (Running Backs Coach)
2005 SEC Championship – Georgia (Player)
2003 SEC East – Georgia (Player)
2002 SEC Championship – Georgia (Player)
BOWL GAMES
2021 Fiesta Bowl – Oregon (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2018 Belk Bowl – South Carolina (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2018 Outback Bowl – South Carolina (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2016 Birmingham Bowl – South Carolina (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2015 TaxSlayer Bowl – Georgia (Interim Head Coach)
2014 Belk Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013 Gator Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2012 Capital One Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2011 Outback Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2010 Liberty Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2009 Independence Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2008 Capital One Bowl – Georgia (Graduate Assistant/Offense/W Wide Recievers)
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED
2020 (RD 3) WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina – Las Vegas Raiders
2019 (RD 2) WR Deebo Samuel – South Carolina – San Francisco 49ers
2019 (RD 6) OL Dennis Daley – South Carolina – Carolina Panthers
2019 (RD 7) WR Terry Godwin – Georgia – Carolina Panthers
2018 (RD 1) RB Sony Michel – Georgia – New England Patriots
2018 (RD 2) RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – Cleveland Browns
2017 (RD 5) WR Isaiah McKenzie – Georgia – Denver Broncos
2016 (RD 4) WR Malcolm Mitchell – Georgia – New England Patriots
2016 (RD 7) RB Keith Marshall – Georgia – Washington Redskins
2015 (RD 1) RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – St. Louis Rams
2011 (RD 1) WR A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals
2009 (RD 2) WR Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2018 WR/AP Deebo Samuel – South Carolina (AFCA – 1st, FWAA – 2nd, Phil Steele – 2nd)
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2016 WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina (Athlon – 2nd)
2014 RB Nick Chubb – Georgia (FWAA, Phil Steele – 1st)
2012 RB Todd Gurley – Georgia (FWAA, Sporting News, FOX, CBS, Phil Steele – 1st)
2011 RB Isaiah Crowell– Georgia (CBS – 1st)
2008 WR A.J. Green – Georgia (FWAA, Sporting News, Rivals – 1st)
CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR COACHED
2014 RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – SEC (Freshman of the Year)
2011 RB Isaiah Crowell– Georgia – SEC (Freshman of the Year)
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS COACHED
2020 WR Johnny Johnson III – Oregon – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2019 WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina – SEC (Coaches – 2nd)
2018 WR Deebo Samuel – South Carolina – SEC (AP – 2nd, Coaches – 2nd)
2014 RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – SEC (AP – 1st, Coaches – 1st)
2013 RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – SEC (AP – 2nd)
2012 RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – SEC (AP – 1st, Coaches – 2nd)
2008 WR A.J. Green – Georgia – SEC (AP – 1st)
2008 WR Mohamed Massaquoi – Georgia – SEC (Coaches – 1st, AP – 2nd)
McClendon spent the previous two seasons as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. His four years in Columbia were preceded by nine seasons on the staff at Georgia, where he was part of 85 wins and a pair of SEC East titles.
Named the National Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports in 2014, McClendon was the running backs coach at Georgia for six seasons (2009-14) before taking over the wide receivers room in 2015 while serving as passing game coordinator. He was also Georgia’s recruiting coordinator the last two seasons and was the program’s interim head coach during the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl win over Penn State.
Oregon (2020-Present)
In his first season as Oregon’s pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach, McClendon helped the Ducks to their second consecutive Pac-12 championship and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
Oregon’s passing game featured a balanced group of pass catchers that had six different players in the top 47 of the Pac-12 Conference in receiving yards, including three of the top 12. Sophomore Devon Williams led the Ducks, and finished 10th in the league, with 286 yards receiving. He also ranked second among Pac-12 players averaging 19.07 yards per catch and tied for the most 100-yard receiving games with two.
Six Ducks, including three of McClendon’s receivers, ranked in the top 27 in receiving touchdowns in the Pac-12 with three Oregon players ranking in the top five. With the season shortened to just seven games because of COVID-19, Oregon had five players finish with double-digit catches led by senior Jaylon Redd’s 25 grabs. Fellow senior Johnny Johnson III, an honorable mention all-conference pick, added 19 receptions.
South Carolina (2016-19)
McClendon served as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator his final two seasons while coaching the wide receivers all four years in Columbia. Named co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach when he was hired in 2016, McClendon made his play-calling debut for the Gamecocks in the 26-19 win over Michigan in the 2018 Outback Bowl, in which South Carolina scored 23 unanswered points in the second half.
Weeks after the Outback Bowl win, McClendon was promoted to offensive coordinator and in the 2018 season the Gamecocks averaged 30.1 points and 425.6 yards per game, good for the program’s most since 2014. Carolina set a program record with five games of 500 yards or more of total offense, including back-to-back 600-yard performances against Chattanooga and at No. 1 Clemson.
McClendon helped take a youthful position room upon arrival in 2016 and turn it into one of the SEC’s strongest wideout groups. Deebo Samuel turned in a pair of strong seasons under McClendon’s guidance, highlighted by All-America honors in 2018 before being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Samuel returned from a season-ending injury as a senior in 2018 to finish second in the SEC with 11 receiving TDs and was joined by junior Bryan Edwards to make up one of two duos in the SEC with 55-plus catches.
A Freshman All-American after his first season with McClendon, Edwards finished his career as South Carolina’s all-time leader in receptions (234) and receiving yards (3,045), marks that finished tied for third and fourth, respectively, in SEC history. Edwards caught a pass in all 48 games played over his four seasons and finished third among Carolina’s career leaders with 22 TD grabs.
In McClendon’s first year as OC in 2018, quarterback Jake Bentley finished third in program history with 27 TD passes and fourth with 3,171 yards through the air while setting a new school record with five completions of 70 or more yards. Bentley set South Carolina single-game records for TD passes (5) and passing yards (510) at Clemson en route to becoming just the fourth SEC QB with 500 yards passing in a road game since 2000.
Georgia (2007-15)
McClendon returned to his alma mater to begin his coaching career and was a major part in Georgia winning 10 or more games six times in his nine seasons on the staff.
From 2009-15 when McClendon was a full-time member of the staff, the Bulldogs averaged 33.4 points per game which was the second most in the SEC over that seven-year span. McClendon was part Georgia’s staff that helped the Bulldogs lead the SEC in scoring offense (41.3) in 2014 for just the third time since 1982, highlighted by 44.3 points per game in four SEC road contests.
From 2011-14, the Bulldogs put together four of the top six seasons in program history in total offense and three of the top five seasons for total TDs.
After two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant, McClendon was promoted to running backs coach in 2009. McClendon recruited and developed some of the nation’s best running backs over his five seasons, including Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Isaiah Crowell.
A pair of freshmen were the featured running backs in McClendon’s group during Georgia’s back-to-back SEC Eastern Division title in 2011 and 2012. After landing the nation’s top running back in the 2011 class, McClendon helped Crowell make an immediate impact en route to being named the 2011 SEC Freshman of the Year. Crowell led Georgia and was third among Power 5 freshmen with 850 yards on the ground.
The next season, Gurley arrived and led all freshman running backs nationally with 1,385 yards and 17 TDs that included seven 100-yard games against SEC opponents. Gurley became just the third freshman running back to earn All-SEC first-team honors since 1987.
McClendon’s running backs room was crowded with future NFL stars in 2014, as Georgia went on to lead the SEC in rushing for the first time since 1992 with 3,352 yards and 38 TDs, which rank second and third most, respectively, in program history.
Despite starting just eight games, Nick Chubb finished second in the SEC in rushing (1,547 yards) and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. Chubb and Gurley (911 yards in six games) gave Georgia one of five FBS running back duos with over 900 yards rushing in 2014, while Sony Michel rushed for 410 yards on just 64 carries.
Prior to the start of the 2015 season, McClendon was promoted to assistant head coach by Mark Richt and took over as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in addition to starting his second year as Georgia’s recruiting coordinator. McClendon’s first class (2015) as recruiting coordinator was ranked No. 6 nationally by 247Sports and Rivals.
Playing Career
Part of a senior class that won the most games (44) in Georgia history, highlighted three SEC Eastern Division titles (2002, ‘03, ‘05), two SEC championships (2002,‘05), and played in four bowl games (2003 Nokia Sugar, ‘04 Capital One, ‘05 Outback, ‘06 Nokia Sugar), winning three.
McClendon was a key piece in the Bulldogs’ SEC title run in 2005. The Atlanta, Ga., native hauled in 35 catches for 529 yards and a team-high six TDs in 2005, highlighted by the game-winning TD grab with 3:18 left at Georgia Tech. In the SEC Championship Game, McClendon blocked a punt that led to Georgia’s third touchdown in a 34-14 win over LSU.
COACHING CAREER
| 2020-present | Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers | Oregon |
| 2018-19 | Offensive Coordinator/ Wide Receivers | South Carolina |
| 2016-17 | Co-Offensive Coordinator/ Wide Receivers | South Carolina |
| 2015 | Interim Head Coach | Georgia |
| 2015 | Assistant HC/WRs/Pass Game Coord./Recruiting Coord. | Georgia |
| 2014 | Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator | Georgia |
| 2009-13 | Running Backs | Georgia |
| 2007-08 | Graduate Assistant/Offense/W Wide Receivers | Georgia |
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2020 Pac-12 Conference – Oregon (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2012 SEC East – Georgia (Running Backs Coach)
2011 SEC East – Georgia (Running Backs Coach)
2005 SEC Championship – Georgia (Player)
2003 SEC East – Georgia (Player)
2002 SEC Championship – Georgia (Player)
BOWL GAMES
2021 Fiesta Bowl – Oregon (Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2018 Belk Bowl – South Carolina (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2018 Outback Bowl – South Carolina (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2016 Birmingham Bowl – South Carolina (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2015 TaxSlayer Bowl – Georgia (Interim Head Coach)
2014 Belk Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013 Gator Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2012 Capital One Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2011 Outback Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2010 Liberty Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2009 Independence Bowl – Georgia (Running Backs)
2008 Capital One Bowl – Georgia (Graduate Assistant/Offense/W Wide Recievers)
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED
2020 (RD 3) WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina – Las Vegas Raiders
2019 (RD 2) WR Deebo Samuel – South Carolina – San Francisco 49ers
2019 (RD 6) OL Dennis Daley – South Carolina – Carolina Panthers
2019 (RD 7) WR Terry Godwin – Georgia – Carolina Panthers
2018 (RD 1) RB Sony Michel – Georgia – New England Patriots
2018 (RD 2) RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – Cleveland Browns
2017 (RD 5) WR Isaiah McKenzie – Georgia – Denver Broncos
2016 (RD 4) WR Malcolm Mitchell – Georgia – New England Patriots
2016 (RD 7) RB Keith Marshall – Georgia – Washington Redskins
2015 (RD 1) RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – St. Louis Rams
2011 (RD 1) WR A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals
2009 (RD 2) WR Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2018 WR/AP Deebo Samuel – South Carolina (AFCA – 1st, FWAA – 2nd, Phil Steele – 2nd)
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2016 WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina (Athlon – 2nd)
2014 RB Nick Chubb – Georgia (FWAA, Phil Steele – 1st)
2012 RB Todd Gurley – Georgia (FWAA, Sporting News, FOX, CBS, Phil Steele – 1st)
2011 RB Isaiah Crowell– Georgia (CBS – 1st)
2008 WR A.J. Green – Georgia (FWAA, Sporting News, Rivals – 1st)
CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR COACHED
2014 RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – SEC (Freshman of the Year)
2011 RB Isaiah Crowell– Georgia – SEC (Freshman of the Year)
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS COACHED
2020 WR Johnny Johnson III – Oregon – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2019 WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina – SEC (Coaches – 2nd)
2018 WR Deebo Samuel – South Carolina – SEC (AP – 2nd, Coaches – 2nd)
2014 RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – SEC (AP – 1st, Coaches – 1st)
2013 RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – SEC (AP – 2nd)
2012 RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – SEC (AP – 1st, Coaches – 2nd)
2008 WR A.J. Green – Georgia – SEC (AP – 1st)
2008 WR Mohamed Massaquoi – Georgia – SEC (Coaches – 1st, AP – 2nd)
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