Roster Review: No. 70

No. 70 on our Roster Review—redshirt freshman Warren McClendon—will have the opportunity to make a big impact on the offensive line once practice ultimately resumes.

With three starters gone from last fall, there’s obviously going to be plenty of opportunity to make a big impressions, perhaps even earn a starting role.

McClendon would certainly qualify.

Along with fellow redshirt Xavier Truss, McClendon and a host of other non-starting returnees are the players who will be afforded the first shots at replacing the likes of Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson, and Solomon Kindley.

McClendon entered his freshman season knowing he was going to redshirt, although, thanks to the NCAA’s new redshirt rule, he was still able to get into four games.

McClendon saw action against Murray State, Missouri, Georgia Tech, and Baylor, taking a season-high 10 reps in the opener against the Racers.

He has the ability to play inside, but McClendon was seen taking most of his practice reps at right tackle, behind Isaiah Wilson, after coming in as an early enrollee prior to last spring.

It appears that right tackle will be McClendon's main focus, with Jamaree Salyer expected to get first crack at replacing Andrew Thomas at left tackle.

McClendon backed up Wilson at the position last year.

Not only did his strength improve, but McClendon's footwork and upgrades in technique have won him favor with new position coach Matt Luke. He was lining up with the first team in walkthroughs earlier this spring.

Whether or not the former four-star winds up with a starting role remains to be seen, but his will be a name to keep an eye on once practice resumes.

Ray Rissmiller

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