Florida is the total package for Gators DT signee Chris McClellan
While in-state Oklahoma made a strong push down the stretch, it was the Florida Gators that won out for Chris McClellan.
Both programs hosted him for an official visit the week prior to the Early Signing Period; however, according to the All-American defensive tackle, there was not much drama leading up to the recruiting finish line.
“I took a visit to OU, but that was just to make sure I was making the right decision,” McClellan told On3’s Joseph Hastings. “Honestly, I knew I was always going to end up at Florida.
“I really just trust coach Napier and his plan and what he has going with the new staff. Something just told me that I need to be at Florida, so that is where I picked.”
When McClellan committed to the Gators, the program was without a head coach after AD Scott Stricklin parted ways with Dan Mullen. That does not happen too often, but after journeying down to Gainesville three times prior to that, McClellan viewed Gainesville as his home away from home and felt comfortable regardless of who the head coach was.
All in all, UF is the total package for the Tulsa native.
“The University of Florida is just different as a whole,” McClellan said. “I fell in love with the university as a whole. I fell in love with the school outside of the coaching staff and just what they have to offer me as a person outside of football.”
Game days at UF left a lasting impression on McClellan
After officially visiting UF in early June, McClellan returned to Gainesville multiple times during the fall as well.
In fact, the 101st-ranked player in the On3 Consensus was in town for back-to-back home games. He was inside the Swamp for the Gators’ 31-29 loss to Alabama and then returned the following weekend for the 24-point victory over the Volunteers.
“The people of the town, they are just so in tune with the football program,” McClellan said. “The school is just incredible. There is nothing like being in the Swamp on game day.
“The fans are just so invested into the football program; it feels like they are part of it. Whenever we lose, the whole town takes a loss; whenever we win, everybody wins.
“With that type of atmosphere around you, why would you not want to be around someone that supports you like that when they don’t even know you like that? They just know you because you play sports.”
McClellan is slipping on his recruiting cap
At the start of All-American Bowl week, UF held commitments from a pair of participants in McClellan and defensive back Devin Moore.
However, that number expanded to three once running back Trevor Etienne committed to the Gators over LSU and Clemson. Additional targets strapped up the pads in San Antonio as well, including tailback TreVonte’ Citizen and Auburn commit Caden Story.
According to McClellan, more good news for the Gators is coming over the next several weeks.
“I think the future is bright. We still have February too,” McClellan said. “Trust me, we have a couple of big names that are playing in this game that haven’t been released yet, but I’m telling you: we are probably going to have 2-3 commits coming from this game. We are going to shock the world.”
McClellan, the 15th-ranked defensive tackle, has since relocated to Gainesville to enroll at the University of Florida. He is officially a Gator.
“You’re going to get everything out of me,” McClellan said in a message to UF fans.”
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
