Missouri sits 2nd nationally in rushing defense and 9th nationally in passing defense. Moreover, the team is 5-1 so far, and all of this has a lot to do with its ace defensive tackle, Chris McClellan. The guy has already notched up 13 tackles so far, along with a sack, and has emerged as the undisputed leader in the locker room. The dominance has undoubtedly been unprecedented. That wouldn’t have happened if not for his father, Kenny McClellan.

McClellan started his journey from Florida and spent two seasons there, recording 46 tackles and 2 sacks. That was impressive, but his frame at 6’4″ and 323 lbs meant much of his potential was still untapped. And to do that, Missouri came calling last season. Chris then quickly jumped into Eliah Drinkwitz’s camp and took no time to show his potential.

Those 39 tackles and 2 sacks were crucial factors in Missouri’s 10-win season, and Eliah Drinkwitz got all the credit for the development. However, Chris’s father, Kenny, himself a standout former football player, always instilled the same athleticism and leadership Chris showed on the field.

Who are Chris McClellan’s parents?

It is hard to imagine that a 320 lbs beast like Chris didn’t always like football. But that’s what really happened. And his father, a former star QB for Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High, never burdened him with the expectation either. Kenny also played as a wide receiver in college for Mississippi State, but didn’t pursue a football career further. Instead, he returned home to Tulsa to raise his family and instill the same athleticism in his son.

“I did not like football as a kid. I didn’t like it all. I was just out there to be out there. I would be sitting in the grass and playing with bugs or something like that,” said Chris McClellan. However, according to his father, Kenny, Chris was always destined for football, being a “big guy in smaller grades” in high school.

“He always played football, but he was just kind of a guy. A big one…When you are a big guy in the smaller grades, they just put you out there to take up space,” said Kenny. Of course, Kenny always knew what his son was capable of, and even Chris acknowledged that his father always took his talent “seriously.” It was then inevitable that Kenny would influence Chris’s recruitment decision. But more than that, Kenny also shaped his high school career, paving the way for his high-profile recruitment.

All about Kenny McClellan and DaRina McClellan

McLellan, after his junior season in high school, transferred to Owasso High School for his senior season. That helped him massively since Ossawo had the highest classification in Oklahoma and was resource rich compared to his previous Edison High School. That worked massively since Chris totaled 46 tackles and notched 5 sacks in his senior year. Later, when D1 offers started rolling in, Kenny McClellan’s guidance became paramount for Chris.

“Every year, it was a transition. His junior year, he was doing a lot of feet work, and I had him doing running back stuff, receiver stuff. He played 7-on-7. He was the only D-Lineman playing 7-on-7, making catches, getting in the end zone, because I didn’t want him to do linemen stuff because his equilibrium was off because he was so big. I had him do yoga, different stuff. He did a lot of self-training,” said Kenny about Chris’s development. The work is then paying off massively for Chris, which his father put in.

Kenny McClellan’s mother also played a pivotal role in his journey. Right from showcasing unwavering support in his journey to help navigate the pressures of recruiting. DaRina’s role became more and more pronounced. DaRina was also the reason why Chris eventually decided to transfer to Missouri. Why? Missouri was the place where she met Kenny decades ago, as highlighted by Chris in various interviews. She took pride in Missouri’s program and influenced her son to transfer. That bet is then also paying off as Chris is becoming a solid NFL early rounds pick for the 2026 draft.