Mocs OL McClendon Curtis Gets a Shot to Shine at NFL Combine
(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—Chattanooga Mocs offensive lineman McClendon Curtis is back in the headlines in his march to the NFL Draft. He’s in Indianapolis, Indiana this weekend at the NFL Combine. He’s the ninth Moc all-time to be invited the prestigious event featuring the best of the best heading into the NFL Draft.
Curtis is just the third to pull the all-important double of playing in the Senior Bowl and competing in the combine joining Keionta Davis (2017) and former teammate Cole Strange (2022). There’s literally not a single NFL evaluator that won’t lay eyes on the Mocs All-American and Jacobs Blocking Award winner.
“McClendon has a special opportunity ahead of him,” Coach Rusty Wright explained. “He took advantage of putting down a lot of tape here for evaluators to see, a lot of college snaps playing at a high level. He worked hard for us and continues to do that with a strong Senior Bowl week and now the NFL Combine.
“He has more than earned this chance, and we know he’ll make the most of it.”
The NFL Scouting Combine’s o-line day is Sunday. It features job interviews, workouts, drills, etc. The physical and mental tests go a long way toward affecting draft status. There are all sorts of physical indicator used (i.e. 40-yard dash, bench press, broad jump) as well as physical measurements, injury evaluation, mental acuity tests and a long bank of interviews with each team.
Curtis is one of nine FCS student-athletes invited, and the only one from a Southern Conference school. Eldra Buckley was the first in 2007 from Chattanooga followed by Buster Skrine (2011), B.J. Coleman (2012), Derrick Lott (2015), Davis Tull (2015), Davis (2017), Corey Levin (2017) and Strange (2022). Skrine and Levin both remain on NFL rosters as teammates with the Tennessee Titans.
NFL FAQs
Last Mocs to compete in NFL Scouting Combine?
2022: OL Cole Strange
Last Moc to tackle the Senior Bowl & Combine in same year?
2022: OL Cole Strange
Last Moc drafted in NFL Draft?
2022: OL Cole Strange, 29th pick in the 1st round to New England
Earliest Moc Draft Selection?
2022 1st round pick Cole Strange, No. 29 to the New England Patriots. Second is one of the best 3rd round picks in NFL history with San Francisco taking Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens with the 28th selection. Strange and Owens are the only Mocs alums to go in the first three rounds to date.
How many Mocs currently play in the NFL?
Five:
C.J. Board, WR, Tennessee Titans
Tae Davis, LB, Cleveland Browns
Corey Levin, OL, Tennessee Titans
Isaiah Mack, DL, New York Jets
Cole Strange, OL, New England Patriots
Who is the longest-tenured Moc in the NFL?
Owens played 219 games in 15 seasons.
