Sources: Georgia is bringing back familiar name as key offensive assistant

Bryan McClendon made a name for himself playing and coaching for Georgia. Now, the former Bulldogs star is returning home to Athens.

After a journey that brought him to South Carolina, Oregon and Miami after leaving Georgia, McClendon is returning as the Bulldogs wide receivers coach, according to DawgsHQ.

“Georgia has made a move to fill the vacancy at wide receivers coach as sources have confirmed to DawgsHQ that Kirby Smart has hired Bryan McClendon away from Miami,” wrote Palmer Thombs of DawgsHQ. “The former Bulldog pass catcher was set to be a member of Mario Crisobal’s first staff at ‘The U’ after making the move from Oregon with him, but will now head home to Athens where he played and began his coaching career.”

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From 2002 to 2005, McClendon was a reliable target for Bulldogs quarterbacks. The former Georgia wide receiver reeled in 56 receptions for 830 yards and six touchdowns over his time with the program. Then, spent some time with the Chicago Bears at the next level before turning to coaching.

In 2007, McClendon returned to Georgia as a graduate assistant, a post he held until 2008. Then, he was promoted to their running backs coach, where he helped recruit the likes of Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. After a season where he was named the interim head coach for Georgia’s bowl game, McClendon took his talents to a new program for the first time in his football career.

Now returning to Georgia, McClendon will have plenty to do. First, he must find suitable replacements for Georgia’s exodus of receiving talent. Luckily, Thombs mentions the Bulldogs have Ladd McConkey, AD Mitchell and Kearis Jackson coming back to ease the transition on McClendon.

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Bryan McClendon isn’t the only big name joining Kirby Smart with the Bulldogs. Moreover, former Auburn offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has landed a new job, joining Smart’s staff at Georgia as an offensive analyst, according to DawgsHQ. A longtime SEC assistant coach, Bobo is returning to the Bulldogs’ program for his second stint on the coaching staff.

Bobo, 47, spent the 2021 season as Auburn’s offensive coordinator but was fired after just one year on the job. Now, he’s back at Georgia – the school he played quarterback for from 1993-97 and later spent 13 years on the coaching staff – to work under Smart.

After serving as Georgia’s quarterbacks coach from 2001-2006 and offensive coordinator from 2007-14, Bobo was hired as Colorado State’s head coach in 2015 and spent five seasons at the helm. He spent the 2020 season as South Carolina’s offensive coordinator and then interim head coach before going to Auburn.

An Augusta, Georgia native, Bobo is now back at home to rejoin a program that’s been a part of most of his life.