CARROLLTON, Ga. — Atlanta Westlake four-star wide receiver Travis Smith was very candid when asked about the departure of wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon from Georgia to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I found out yesterday actually,” Smith said Sunday, at the Under Armour Atlanta Camp. “He tried to hit me up and I did not get the call but I saw the media reports that he was going to the NFL. They did end up trying to call me but I was busy. Definitely, after this, I will have to get further information on their new plans.
Georgia’s assistant coaching movement isn’t complete yet.
Like many others in college football recently, wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon has departed for the NFL. McClendon will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers coach and pass-game coordinator. Georgia will be looking for its third wide receivers coach since the 2021 season concluded. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the coaching change.
McClendon was a player’s favorite in Athens
“It’s very funny [getting coached by McClendon],” Dillon Bell said during the 2023 season. “That’s one of the coolest guys I know. I love him. He makes sure that I’m cool on the field and off the field. Yeah, very good guy.”
McClendon joined Georgia in January 2022, his second stint as a Bulldogs assistant coach. He served as the wide receivers coach for each of the last two seasons.
This is Georgia’s third assistant coaching change since the end of the season.
Donte Williams came to Georgia from Southern Cal after Fran Brown accepted the Syracuse head coaching position. Behind the scenes, Kirby Smart orchestrated a co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach switch when Travaris Robinson came to Georgia from Alabama. Will Muschamp returned to an off-the-field role.
