High School and College Career

McClendon Curtis from Central High School, a 2-star prospect, decided to join Chattanooga, a FCS school.

In his freshman year at Chattanooga, Curtis played in just 3 games and had a total of 196 snaps. Most of his snaps were played at right guard, where he allowed 3 QB hurries, one QB hit, and no sacks.

Curtis continued to improve in his sophomore year, playing in 4 games and a total of 264 snaps. His number of QB hurries redcued to just 2, with no QB hits and 2 sacks allowed.

Moving onto his junior year in 2021, Curtis played in 10 games and accumulated a total of 635 snaps. Once again, he played as a right guard. Curtis gave up only 3 QB hurries, no QB hits, and 2 sacks.

Finally, in his senior year in 2022, Curtis played in 11 games and had a total of 731 snaps. He spent most of his snaps playing at left tackle, with the remainder at right guard. Even though he played at a new position, Curtis’s performance remained exceptional. Throughout the season, he allowed only 2 QB hurries, 5 QB hits, and no sacks.

McClendon Curtis Scouting Report Introduction

McClendon Curtis is a towering, multi-positional offensive lineman who chose to play for the Chattanooga Mocs despite receiving numerous offers from FBS schools. Over his six-year career, he has amassed more than 35 starts and has been recognized as a multi-time All-SoCon first-team member. With an upcoming appearance in Mobile, Alabama this February, Curtis will have the opportunity to showcase his skills and potentially improve his draft stock, ultimately influencing his appeal to NFL executives.

As an offensive lineman with experience at guard positions and tackle, Curtis’ lengthy frame and impressive power make him a versatile option for Chattanooga. However, there are some noteworthy concerns that arise when considering his prospects at the NFL level.

Curtis’ feet appear sluggish in pass-setting situations, making him particularly vulnerable to counter-moves inside when facing quick and agile edge rushers. While he is able to fight back against handsy edges, his inability to change directions quickly enough would make jumping ahead ill-advised in any scenario. In the run game, he can be top-heavy, which hinders his ability to move quickly up the second level. He also has a tendency to over-correct his footwork, throwing off his balance and dragging his body. While his length, power, and mass may allow him to win battles in the trenches, relying solely on these traits would limit his potential in the NFL.

It is important to note, however, that despite these concerns, there are some positive aspects to Curtis’ play style. His competitiveness is particularly notable and he always works to strain and finish his plays. Additionally, his ability to generate power and quickness from his stance is impressive, particularly when employed in wide-zone run schemes. This suggests that Curtis may be best suited for an offensive structure that utilizes these schemes. Furthermore, while his versatility is a strength, determining where he will be most effective on the line may take some time and may be costly in the long run.

Overall, while Curtis’ traits and tools are impressive, it is difficult to predict whether he will become a starting offensive lineman in the NFL. His success in the league will depend on how well he is able to address his weaknesses and adapt to the structural nuances of the NFL. Nonetheless, his potential as a strong fit in as a versatile lineman suggests that he may have a solid future in the league.

Strengths

As a player, Curtis has shown to be a smooth mover and covers a lot of ground, working hard to mirror rushers while keeping his feet moving. This is an important aspect of pass protection, requiring a lineman to stay centered and quick to block defenders. Curtis’s agility and ability to adjust on the fly allow him to navigate around defenders and create space for his quarterback to throw the ball.

In terms of run blocking, Curtis flashes power and nastiness, allowing him to win at the point of attack and reach the second level. This highlights his ability to adapt to the situation and control defenders in open space, making him a valuable asset to any running game strategy.

Weaknesses

One major issue was that his footwork was not up to par for playing left tackle at the next level of competition. In addition, his body type did not lend itself well to a switch to a guard position.

When it came to pass protection, Curtis seemed to struggle more when backing up than when moving forward, which led to concerns about his ability to be effective in that role at a higher level. His overextension sometimes resulted in balance issues, leaving him vulnerable to getting beat by defenders.

McClendon Curtis is the 164th prospect on our draft big board.