Welcome to the 2023 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 26, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Because team rosters are updated at different times 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 2022 rosters
77: Tyler McLellan, OL (Gr.) — Campbell
McLellan is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-8 and 355 pounds. He’s a three-time All-Big South selection at right tackle and is eyeing a healthy final season at Campbell in 2023.
His college career spans back to 2017 when McLellan redshirted. He missed 2018 due to injury, then started 26 straight games from 2019-2021. McLellan earned Second Team All-Big South accolades in 2019 and 2020-21 before being named to the First Team in 2021. Last season he appeared in only four games.
With his size and play, McLellan has attracted NFL attention.
He had a PFF pass-blocking grade of 75.1 in 749 snaps during the 2021 season, allowing only two sacks and nine hurries. Last year, McLellan had an 80.0 pass-blocking grade in 245 snaps, allowing no sacks and two hurries.
In 1,402 career snaps recorded by PFF, McLellan has allowed just five total sacks with an overall pass-blocking efficiency of 98.0.
“Playing heavy outside zone and gap schemes are my cup of tea,” he told NFL Draft Diamonds. “Linemen tend to live by their ability to be physical and nasty, yet I feel that being smart and understanding position alignment helps set me apart.”
The Camels finished 5-6 last season. They now head to a stronger CAA in 2023. Campbell has signed top FCS recruiting classes in recent years and has brought in more than 15 FBS transfers this offseason. Paired with returning standouts like McLellan, OL Mike Edwards, QB Hajj-Malik Williams, LB CJ Tillman, and LB Justice Galloway-Velazquez, it will be fascinating to see how the Camels compete in their first season as a CAA member.
