Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
52: McClendon Curtis, OL (Sr.) — Chattanooga
Chattanooga offensive guard Cole Strange was selected in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft by New England. The Mocs will very likely have another draft pick in 2023 with Curtis. Josh Buchanan ranks him the No. 5 pro prospect in the FCS.
A massive 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds, he moves well for his size and dominates at the point of attack. PFF graded him as the No. 2 FCS offensive guard last season right behind Strange with an 84.2 grade.
Curtis enters his sixth season at Chattanooga. He was a two-star recruit in the class of 2017 and chose the Mocs over offers from App State, Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee State, Ohio, Tennessee Tech, UT Martin, and Western Kentucky.
By 2019, Curtis was in the starting lineup at guard. He earned back-to-back First Team All-SoCon honors in the last two seasons, helping the Mocs to the No. 16 FCS rushing offense (205.5 yards per game) last fall.
Plenty of preseason All-American accolades will come his way this summer as the NFL Draft buzz builds throughout the fall. HERO Sports ranks Curtis the No. 2 returning FCS offensive lineman.
