GATOR COLLECTIVE Q&A: Chris McClellan Came To Florida Because He Fell In Love With Gainesville

“I’m looking forward to nine, seven and one being on the field at the same time. Gervon Dexter, he’s a first round draft pick. He’s a big guy, just freak of nature, quick, athletic.” – Chris McClellan

By KYLE CURTIS

GatorBaitMedia.com Intern

Chris McClellan is a freshman defensive lineman from Owasso, Okla. McClellan attended Owasso High School where he was able to gain a 4-star national ranking and the #2 player in Oklahoma as a recruit before choosing the Gators. McClellan had offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC among others. He committed to Florida when there was no head coach, making it clear that he envisioned a strong future by attending Florida regardless of his head coach. McClellan, 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, had 46 tackles, five sacks, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and two batted passes during his senior campaign at Owasso.

Question: Why Florida?

Answer: “I fell in love with the people. It was a different atmosphere and the people of Gainesville showed me so much love. I really believed in the staff, even after Coach Mullen got fired, it made me even more emphatic when I found out that Coach Napier got the job. I really believed in the plans they have to bring us to one of the top programs in the nation.”

Question: What do you like about Coach Napier?

Answer: “He is just such a good guy. Everything he says he means, and he does it. Coach Napier promised I was going get #7 and now I got it! He’s a great coach but an even better man outside of football.”

Question: How is being coached by Coach Chaos (Sean Spencer)?

Answer: “Coach Spence is a different dude man; he brings the energy every single day. That’s one thing he never lacks. He’s a real in your face type of coach, he’s always bringing the juice. He always gets me hype; he gets the d-line hype. He’s one of those guys on the coaching staff that not only gets the d-line hype but the whole team.”

Question: What’s it like going to play with Gervon Dexter and Brenton Cox?

Answer: “I’m looking forward to nine, seven and one being on the field at the same time. Gervon Dexter, he’s a first round draft pick. He’s a big guy, just freak of nature, quick, athletic. Me, I’m same thing just big, fast and athletic. I’m a good pass rusher. And then Brenton Cox is just an athlete man. He’s a true ball hawk. See ball, get ball. All three of us is going to be scary for opposing offenses.”

Question: What made you stick with Florida even through the coaching change?

Answer: “In history Florida has always been one of the top schools in the nation. It’s up there with ‘Bama and Auburn and LSU. All those schools that consistently produce those top-tier guys. It was an off year last year, it happens. But, coming back Florida is Florida we are going to get right. Especially after talking to Coach Napier and Coach Tony, Coach Napier has a plan, everything is thought up. When he came on my home visit, everything he said was going to happen has happened. Every day I’m reminded of how blessed I am to be at a school like this.”