Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009

Boise State's defensive end McClellin a home-grown playmaker

The BSU defensive end from Marsing is turning heads with his focus, athleticism and intensity.

By BY CHADD CRIPE

Boise State sophomore defensive end Shea McClellin practices with such focus and intensity that teammate Jarrell Root has asked him why he's so angry.

"He'll snap out of it, say, 'I'm not mad, man,' and then he'll go right back into it," Root said. "... Shea is extremely focused."

McClellin, a former three-sport star at tiny Marsing High, has used his serious approach to win a starting job and make a serious impact on the Broncos defense.

Since replacing Root in the starting lineup Sept. 26 at Bowling Green, McClellin has 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup in three games.

He made two drive-killing plays last week at Tulsa - a sack on third-and-2 and a pass breakup on fourth-and-1, both in Broncos territory.

"Once he earned that starting job, he let loose," junior defensive end Ryan Winterswyk said. "He's not afraid to take a chance to make plays."

McClellin caught everyone's attention in the game at Fresno State, the week before he was named the starter. He ran 36 yards downfield to tackle a Fresno State running back from behind.

He still has outstanding speed for a 6-foot-3, 262-pounder - speed he used to dominate the 2A ranks as an All-Idaho linebacker and running back at Marsing.

"Some guys just have that instinct in them to go and be relentless," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "He's really showing signs of that. ... He could do some really special things down the road."

McClellin grew up on Chicken Dinner Road outside Marsing. That's the same road that became famous as the home of former Caldwell High and Washington Huskies quarterback Cody Pickett.

McClellin was raised by his grandparents, who adopted him. He tried every sport he could and excelled at Marsing as a two-way football player, a guard on the basketball team and a center fielder on the baseball team.

"He probably could play any position on the baseball field," said Don Heller, Marsing's football coach during McClellin's career.

Most college teams - including Oregon - projected McClellin as a tight end. Boise State was the only school that wanted him as a defensive end.

"I didn't really want to play offense because I'm not good at blocking," McClellin said.

He was a lifelong Broncos fan. He even won season tickets in a drawing when he was in elementary school.

He gazed at the blue from the stands never imagining he would someday play there.

"I was like, 'I'll never be able to do that,' " he said.

That all changed during his junior year at Marsing, when he emerged as a force. Heller moved him to running back midway through that season and McClellin rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in five games.

"Basically it was give me the ball and run," McClellin said. "I like running people over. They were small, so it was easy."

His demeanor was the same then as it is now, even though he was big man on campus. He still attracts attention when he goes home.

"He didn't talk much, but he didn't have to," Heller said. "He worked hard and the kids kind of followed that."

And when something needed to be said, McClellin spoke with his play. Heller remembers a freshman talking trash to McClellin during practice one day.

McClellin didn't say a word to his teammate.

"He came to the huddle and said, 'Coach, give me the ball,' " Heller said.

McClellin delivered his response by running over the kid.

"Everything was 'yes, sir,' 'no, sir,' 'Whatever you want, I'll do it,' " Heller said. "But you did see a mean streak in him once in a while."

McClellin grayshirted out of high school, which allowed him to put on some weight and get a head start on school in fall 2007. He joined the team in January 2008 and played immediately. He was coming on strong before a knee injury at Idaho ended his season.

This year, he has become a more physical, technical player - traits he needed to acquire to thrive in college.

"The way he moved around and ran (at Marsing)," defensive line coach Pete Kwiatkowski said, "I thought there was a huge upside with him if he could figure out the physical part of it."

That day seems close.

"He's making really good progress," Petersen said. "He's a really athletic defensive end who can run, and he's aggressive. That's the formula you're looking for."