Former Crestwood lineman McClain returns to alma mater as assistant after run in indoor league

When former Crestwood standout Terrance McClain wrapped up his collegiate career at Memphis, he didn't know what the future would hold, but he knew he wasn't done with football.

The burly offensive lineman made the rounds with nearly every professional football league this spring and summer, doing whatever he could to grab the attention of teams. McClain tried out for two teams in the Canadian Football League, tried to find a spot in the United Football League and eventually found his way into the Indoor Football League, playing for the Iowa Barnstormers. Once that season wrapped up this summer, he returned home to Sumter, where he's reconnecting with his roots at Crestwood, coaching their offensive linemen this fall. The last few months have been a whirlwind but a worthwhile adventure.

"It's been a full-circle moment," McClain said. "I gave football my all, so I knew opportunities would come about. I just didn't know when. I just had to learn some patience. When I finally calmed down, that's when I got an opportunity."

McClain originally agreed to become the offensive line coach at Crestwood back in February, but he never stopped pursuing his dreams as a player. In April, he made the voyage to Canada to try out for the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. While his experience there was great, he wasn't able to catch on with either squad.

"Workout-wise, everything went well. Why didn't I get a call? I don't know," he said. "But I learned to accept the things that I did do and be proud of my accomplishments, not get caught up in the highs and lows, just be grateful for where I am today."

When the CFL didn't pan out, he made contact with three UFL teams. He tried out for the Memphis Showboats and communicated with the Arlington Renegades, but he couldn't make a connection that ended with a contract. After a month of waiting, indoor teams came calling and McClain quickly found himself headed to Iowa.

Stepping onto the field with the Barnstormers was an odd experience for McClain. Suddenly, the field was surrounded by walls, and his offensive line shrank from five members to three. He had to adjust to a very different style of play. McClain went on to play 683 snaps and allowed just two pressures on the season.

"Instead of playing tackle, I basically played guard. In terms of style of play, I had to shorten my steps up a little bit because I wasn't on that island, where I had a one-on-one with a guy that's going to run a 4.5 (second 40-yard dash)," McClain said. "Everything slowed down, so I could be way more dominant."

The former Knight hopes that he was able to grab attention from other leagues after a successful first season in the IFL. Either way, he was thankful for the chance to play the game of football, even if it looked a little different than he was used to.

"Overall, it was a great experience. I traveled the world and continued doing something that I loved. I really just soaked everything in and was grateful for the opportunity," McClain said.

As McClain went through his journey on the field, he found a great sounding board in another former Knight, Donald Rutledge, who played in both the CFL and USFL, the league which merged with the XFL to form the USFL last spring.

"Shoutout to my guy D Rut, he actually put me on with a few teams," McClain said. "He's been a good help. Anytime I need some advice, he's a listening ear. Sometimes you just need someone to listen to you."

If other opportunities arise, the IFL and UFL both play in the spring and summer, so McClain is able to give his complete attention to his current venture, coaching at his alma mater.

"I just wanna thank God, it's a real moment," McClain said of coaching at Crestwood. "The guys gravitate to me because I'm fresh out (of college), so they want to soak up all the knowledge I've got. It's a good thing when you've got kids that are coachable."

CHS head coach Roosevelt Nelson hasn't been shy about bringing in former Knights to join the coaching staff, so he was thrilled to bring another AlumKnight into the fold.

"It's one of those full circle moments with Terrance being able to join the staff," Nelson said of working alongside a former player. "He has a story that he can definitely share with our young men in the program that you never let your dreams die, you keep working even if you have to take the long road. He's doing a really good job with the offensive line. He's jumped into coaching doing some really good things, and the kids are really gravitating to him and it's going really well."

McClain's line has been extremely successful early in the season. The Knights have been able to run the ball well all season long despite some injuries in the running back room. Calvin Wofford surpassed 300 total yards of offense in Crestwood's second game against Richland Northeast, and runners surpassed 60 yards in their Week 3 win over Kingstree. The line, led by Aiden Mack, has been consistent throughout the fall.

"I don't care who's in the backfield, we're going to get some yards behind my line," McClain said with a laugh. "But I want to congratulate my guys for working hard, communicating, playing together and creating that bond. The game of football is physical, but it's also mental, and these guys are focused on the task at hand and they're getting better every week."

Along with coaching, McClain is working at Willow Drive Elementary as a learning support specialist.