The Georgia Bulldogs have had seven offensive linemen selected in the last three NFL Drafts. And in 2023, they will send two more to the big leagues. Left tackle Broderick Jones is a potential Day 1 pick, and his bookend counterpart should hear his name called in the rounds to follow. A two-time national champion, where will Warren McClendon’s scouting report see him selected in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Warren McClendon NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- School: Georgia
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
- Height/Weight: 6’4″, 306 pounds
- Length: 34 1/2″
- Hand Size: 10″
A Georgia native, McClendon starred at Brunswick High School, taking over starting RT duties as a sophomore. That same year, he helped lead the basketball team to a state title.
McClendon followed his early success with all-state honors as a junior and first-team all-region and all-state recognition as a senior. It’s safe to say he had every offer a four-star recruit could dream of, with Alabama extending their bid during his freshman season.
Nevertheless, with a final two of Georgia and South Carolina, McClendon decided to stay home and committed to the Bulldogs. He continued a storied family legacy at the program, as his uncle Willie and cousin Bryan both enjoyed success in Athens.
After redshirting in 2019, McClendon made the FWAA Freshman All-American team in 2020, starting nine of 10 games at right tackle. He retained his role in 2021, staving off the up-and-coming Broderick Jones while logging 15 more starts en route to a national championship victory over Alabama.
Then, last season, McClendon was a team captain and made the All-SEC first team starting opposite Jones. He suffered an MCL injury in the conference title game, causing him to miss Georgia’s 42-41 victory over Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
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And although he didn’t start in the 2023 National Championship due to the injury, he did see playing time off the bench. McClendon proved to be a major cog in Georgia’s back-to-back national titles, not allowing a single sack across the two seasons (per PFF).
However, with the Bulldogs at their highest, tragedy struck. On Jan. 15, Georgia OL Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy lost their lives in a car crash, with McClendon in the back seat. All the NFL Draft news has revolved around Jalen Carter’s involvement, as he was reportedly in another car that was racing theirs before they lost control.
But what’s not being talked about enough is the human aspect of the loss of life. Willock was McClendon’s roommate and good friend. Following the incident, McClendon said, “I’m holding up good, it was rough for me for a couple of days, but I’ve been talking to a psychiatrist, and it’s getting better.” Not only that, but he suffered injuries of his own, as he stated he was “knocked out” during the wreck.
However, he worked himself back into health — both mentally and physically — and ultimately accepted an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he wore Willock’s No. 77 jersey. But the hardship didn’t end there, as McClendon suffered another knee injury in the second practice, causing him to miss the rest of the event and not test during the pre-draft process.
Warren McClendon Scouting Report
Strengths
- Three-year starter on an SEC offensive line — as battle-tested as they come (two-time national champ)
- Deploys efficient, active hand usage with a deadening punch — works to refit mid-rep when needed
- Hot motor in the ground game and isn’t passive in pass protection, always looking for work
- Works well on double-team blocks, finishing off the first assignment before scraping to the second level
- Has the football IQ and awareness to pass off and pick up stunts and blitzes with ease
- Pairs decent anchor with solid length and impressive upper-body strength — when he times his punches correctly and gets a free shot on opponents’ chest plates, he’s won the rep
- Showcased consistent kick slides and pass sets you’d expect from a veteran Georgia offensive lineman
- Only two holding penalties in his last 28 games
Areas for Improvement
- Not overly powerful or athletic on tape and couldn’t test to quell concerns
- Plays with a tall pad level and narrow base into contact that will struggle against stronger defenders in the NFL
- Feet slow to a crawl mid-engagement, allowing for second-effort pressures
- Slow foot speed also hinders ability to counter when pass rushers attack soft edges
- A bit high and tight-hipped, causing issues when trying to guide speed rushers around the arc, operate in space, and effectively reach landmarks on reach blocks
- Has the propensity to duck his head into contact, particularly in the ground game
- Largely prefers to two-hand strike, limiting the window for error — if he misses or his arms are swatted down, he usually doesn’t recover
Georgia OT Warren McClendon Current Draft Projection
McClendon obviously has the pedigree and experience NFL teams covet in an offensive lineman. Plus, he just turned 22 this month. There’s plenty of room for refinement in McClendon’s game, but there’s a reason he’s started three years on a national championship-winning unit.
At 6’4″ and 306 pounds, the Georgia native is a bit light and will likely work closely with his new team’s strength and conditioning program to get his body NFL-ready. But once he does, he offers tackle/guard versatility, though he’ll have some growing pains at each early on.
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On the edge, McClendon doesn’t have the foot speed required when facing today’s superhuman pass rushers. And on the interior, his pad level and narrow base will concede ground to more powerful defensive tackles.
Yet, as an early-to-mid Day 3 developmental depth prospect, McClendon’s worth the investment. He’ll need to clear medicals with his knee, but if everything checks out, it’s all systems go. McClendon may be following in the footsteps of former Georgia linemen before him, but he’s on a path only he and Willock will travel.