LITTLE ROCK — Butler (Kan.) Community College offensive line coach Cody Oates said in Tuesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that offensive lineman Johnathan McClure, who’s orally committed to Arkansas, has made big improvement since his freshman season. (Click here for highlights)
He earned second team All-American honors last season.
McClure, 6-4, 305 pounds, is expected to graduate in December and go through
spring practice. Oates didn’t have McClure’s weight room numbers available, but said strength isn’t an issue.
“He’s a big, strong boy,” Oates said. “I don’t know if his numbers would reflect on how strong he plays. He’s just overall very strong, he’s a big, thick kid. He’s built like a damn refrigerator. He’s very explosive at the point of contact.”
McClure, who was named a team caption for the season, is a great leader, said Oates.
“He’s an emotional leader for us,” Oates said. “I go to him a lot in games especially of we’re struggling and kind of need a boost. We’ve talked a lot in the offseason about him being the emotional leader for the offensive line and leading the offense and the team. He really does a great job of that, kind of like putting people on his back and carrying them.”