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2026 LB Jayden McClure talks Vols and early offers

4A3DA472-0F39-4C89-9987-5851509375C0by:Matt Ray•05/09/23•

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2026 Mount Pleasant (Tenn.) linebacker Jayden McClure is already catching the attention of college programs across the country. Coming out of his Freshman season, McClure has picked up offers from Colorado, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, with others on the horizon. The fast-rising prospect discussed his early recruitment with Volquest.

“It has been fun,” McClure said of his recruitment taking off so early. “You are coming out of middle school going into high school, playing good and coaches coming in. It feels really good.”

Tennessee was the first school to extend an offer to McClure, and it certainly caught his attention.

“Tennessee because it was like my first offer,” McClure said of which early offer has stood out. “It is an SEC school, so it is pretty big, so I was like, ‘wow’. You get that first offer, you are very excited.”

He has already had a chance to check out Tennessee on a visit and liked what he saw from the staff.

“When I went on my visit, I saw that they communicate a lot,” he said of his early impression of Tennessee. “They like to have fun. They are very competitive, too.”

The 6-2, 205-pound athlete even got some time with Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during the trip.

“He is a funny dude,” McClure said of Heupel. “He was pretty chill when I met him. He smiles a lot, though.”

Being an in-state prospect, McClure has paid close attention to Tennessee, and one thing he frequently looks at with the Vols is their defense.

“I think about the defense,” he said. “Their defense doesn’t get looked at a lot, but their defense is solid. I think it will be better this year, too.”

To see Volquest’s full video interview with McClure, you can watch via the YouTube link below.

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