McClendon attended West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, playing quarterback for the team, as well as playing some high school basketball.[1] During McClendon's junior season, he threw for over 1,700 yards and amassed 22 passing touchdowns. In McClendon's senior season with West Mecklenburg, he was vital to leading his high school to the North Carolina 4AA state playoffs, leading his school to a 9–3 record, while adding 1,700 passing yards and 17 passing touchdowns.
In 2014, McClendon redshirted to preserve his future eligibility.[6]
After Florida transfer quarterback Jacoby Brissett took over the starting quarterback job in 2014,[7] and true freshman quarterback Jakobi Meyers redshirting 2015 and undergoing knee surgery,[8] McClendon played 7 games for NC State as the backup quarterback to Brissett.
Following the 2015 season, Brissett graduated and was selected in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.[9][10] This opened up a quarterback competition between McClendon and Myers,[11] with Boise State quarterback transfer Ryan Finley joining the NC State football team in 2016.[12][13] McClendon was able to beat out Myers in the quarterback competition, forcing Meyers to start playing the wide receiver position.[14][15] However, Finley would win the starting quarterback job, and McClendon for the second season in the row served as the backup quarterback for the NC State football team.[16] McClendon saw more action at quarterback in 2016, scoring his first passing and rushing touchdown in college during September game against the Old Dominion Monarchs,[17] and seeing playing time in 10 games in 2016 at quarterback.[6]
With Finley fully entrenched as the starting quarterback of the NC State, McClendon only appeared in 3 games, and only attempting 3 passes. Following the 2017 season, McClendon graduated from NC State, and transferred to Baylor to play quarterback for the team,[18][19] with one year of college football eligibility left,[20] and due to Finley being granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA.[21][22]
Baylor
Brought in to compete for the starting quarterback job for Baylor in 2018, McClendon competed with returning starter Charlie Brewer in the spring, with Brewer ultimately winning the starting job, but McClendon still seeing action at quarterback for the team.[23][24][25] McClendon saw his first start at quarterback on November 3, 2018, against Oklahoma State. Despite McClendon's best efforts, Baylor trailed 24–14 in the 3rd quarter, which lead to head coach Matt Rhule to bench McClendon in favor of Brewer. Baylor would come back from behind, and win on a Charlie Brewer touchdown pass to Denzel Mims with 7 seconds remaining.[26] McClendon would not receive another start in 2018, and remained as the backup quarterback for the rest of the year, playing occasionally in 9 games in 2018.[27]
McClendon worked out with the New York Giants on July 27, 2019, but was not offered a contract by the team.[37]
Washington Redskins
On August 11, 2019, McClendon was signed by the Washington Redskins after Josh Woodrum was placed on injured reserve for a torn pectoral muscle.[38][39][40] McClendon received playing time during the preseason, but completed only 4 out of 10 passes attempted for 16 passing yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.[41] On August 31, 2019, McClendon was cut by the team as part of the final cuts to get to the 53-man active roster limit.[42]
Later that week, the New York Giants worked out McClendon, but was once again not offered a contract by the team.[43] On September 23, 2019, the Green Bay Packers brought in McClendon for a workout, but was not offered a contract by the team.[44]
Los Angeles Wildcats
On October 7, 2019, McClendon was one of many quarterbacks included in the draft pool of the 2020 XFL revival.[45][46] On October 16, McClendon was drafted by the Los Angeles Wildcats during the Phase 5: Open Draft section.[47]
Prior to the Wildcats' first season, McClendon made the team as a backup quarterback for the team leading into their first career game. In the Wildcats' first ever game against the Houston Roughnecks, thanks to an injury to presumptive starting quarterback Josh Johnson going into the game, and an injury to Chad Kanoff, the quarterback that started the Wildcats' first ever game after a big hit, McClendon made his professional football debut, going 1 for 4 (25%) passing, no passing yards, and threw an interception.[48][49][50][51] During the Wildcats' week 3 game against the DC Defenders, McClendon took over at quarterback, recording a 3-yard rush. McClendon would record no other stats for the remainder of the season,[51] and the XFL shut down operations and laid off all employees after week five of their inaugural season.[52][53][54]
On January 15, 2024, McClendon was selected by the DC Defenders with the sixth overall pick in the Super Draft portion of the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.[56] He signed with the team on January 22.[57] On November 4, he re-signed with the Defenders.[58]
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