Chris McClellan Serves as Microcosm of Gators DL Seeking More Disruption

Defensive tackle Chris McClellan will look to build off an impressive freshman season while serving as the microcosm of an improved Gators' defensive line.

Photo: Chris McClellan; Credit: Alex Shepherd

Games are won and lost in the trenches. That fact has grown increasingly evident for the Gators over the past two seasons.

As a result, Billy Napier and his staff have made concerted efforts to acquire talented defensive line pieces from the high school ranks and transfer portal with the ability to contribute immediately.

In year one, they hit on former four-star prospect Chris McClellan as he produced in a formidable fashion to not only aid the team a year ago but provide the promise to replace the sizable void a departing Gervon Dexter Sr. created for 2023.

During his recruitment process, Napier and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, who visited McClellan soon after they took over at UF, made sure to prepare the Owasso, Okla. native for the tall task that stood in front of him. Understanding the need for interior defensive linemen, they asked him to enter with a mature mindset.

He did just that.

"When they first came to me during the at-home visit, Coach Napier and Coach Jaluke told me they were going to need me," McClellan said about the staff's efforts to retain him in the transition class.

"Honestly, just coming in with a hard worker mentality. I know I was coming into a good situation, but I didn't let that sway my mindset; I was more work hard, the example that was set by the guys in front of me and around me."

He began the season working sparingly as he grew into his own on the practice field before Florida threw him into the fire against SEC competition. Still seeing adequate time to begin the year, McClellan flashed the prowess to compete at the level with added growth.

His progression was evident as the year went on, resulting in an immense impact.

"It wasn't anything difficult to learn," he shared. "It was more just getting up to speed with the game because high school ball and college are two different things, especially in the SEC. The speed of the game was the main difficulty for me. But once I got adjusted, it was just natural, just football."

He finished his freshman campaign with 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus additionally credited McClellan for producing four quarterback pressures and ten "defensive stops," tackles that constitute a failed play for the offense.

Now, a "way faster, way stronger, and smarter" version of McClellan is a microcosm of the unit in its entirety. After a year of development and compilation of talent in Sean Spencer's room, the former frosh standout is confident in the defensive line's ability to impose its will on the opposition.

"We're being more aggressive and we're trying to come at you and we're focused on making plays all across the board," he said. "I think we have one of the best and largest D-tackle groups in the nation, so I think we're gonna have good middle push and B Gap control and everything you need."

He'll be joined in that endeavor by Desmond Watson, Cam'Ron Jackson, Caleb Banks and Kelby Collins, among others, in the trenches. While each will operate in a different capacity, they will all serve a purpose in the Gators' aggressive approach from the interior.

McClellan spoke about three of those four teammates during his availability on Tuesday.

Watson, for one, is slated to continue occupying starting time at nose tackle, where he'll look to plug the middle and eat space. After elevating his role and contribution in two seasons with Florida, now standing as the longest-tenured member of the defensive line, he'll fulfill a considerable role from the season's beginning.

"You are going to see a hard worker and a playmaker and one of the smartest players on the field," McClellan said when asked what to expect from Watson. "Like me, Dez, he played a little bit his freshman year and we were kind of going into it the same thing. We had a young team last year and especially a young defensive line, most of the guys being in their first year playing.

"I'm telling you, he's going to be a problem this year."

Collins is in the chair McClellan sat in last season, expected to take on a shoulder a heavy load in rotation in his first year at the collegiate level. The sophomore, who's now looked at a veteran within the group, sees the progression Collins — who he coins a smart, resourceful young talent — and other rookies are taking in spring camp.

It reminds him of the aforementioned steps he took just a year ago. He spoke glowingly of the effort the new pieces have put into acclimating themselves to their career's new chapter.

"I see it every day. It's crazy because it was just me a year ago. But all the freshmen coming in have the same mindset that I had, hard workers, they're acclimating well. Just like today, it's our first day [back] from spring break. It was a little drop-off; you could barely tell."

"When you have no drop-off, like today, we [can come] back in and still same speed, pistols firing, everybody knows what to do." 

Jackson will bounce inside-out on occasion, providing matchup issues to opposing offensive lines given his impressive movement ability at 6-foot-6, 353 pounds. Possessing upside as a pass rusher, the thought is that he will lead the unit's desire to create needed internal pressure on quarterbacks this season.

"He's good, good rusher. He's eager to learn, real humble kid," McClellan said in his early assessment of the Memphis transfer. "He moves. For 6-[foot]-7, he's moving around. He moves like a receiver. Very agile."

When he first committed to the Gators, Jackson told All Gators shared his vision for how he and the guys around him up front will operate. He wants the unit to be physical, relentless and disruptive.

"I'm going to bring a lot of disruption," Jackson said. "When we're on people's necks, we ain't taking our foot off they necks."

The aggressive play-calling approach Austin Armstrong provides — along with the increased number of capable bodies in the room for 2023 — is conducive to doing such. With the core in place, the goal will be nothing short of executing said venture.

McClellan will help lead the unit to accomplish it.

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