The South Carolina Gamecocks made it official on Friday, hiring interim offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon to the job full time.
McClendon, 34, was the Gamecocks’ wide receivers coach until the dismissal of former offensive coordinator Kurt Roper. He was given an internal promotion to the post, and the Outback Bowl was openly referred to as his audition. After a come-from-behind 26-19 victory over Michigan, head coach Will Muschamp apparently saw all he needed to.
It’s no secret that Muschamp prioritizes recruiting, and prefers his assistants to bring that skill to the table. Without a doubt, McClendon fits the bill: At his previous stop with Georgia, he was the primary recruiter for players like Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb, and Sony Michel.