GREENLAND — Tylor McClanahan heard the jokes during his sophomore season when he was a defensive tackle benching only 175 pounds.
Now a senior, McClanahan has increased his bench press to 240 pounds, allowing him to avoid the playful remarks in Greenland’s locker room about being “weak.”
Profile
Tylor McClanahan
SCHOOL: Greenland
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 230
NOTABLE: Has started at both offensive and defensive tackle this season after playing primarily on defense during his first two years at Greenland. ... One of five seniors starting on the offensive line for the Pirates. ... Has remained around the same size at Greenland, but has increased his bench press from 175 pounds to 240.
Of course, none of the Pirates’ 15 seniors are above hearing it from football coach Lee Larkan. It’s almost a right of passage at Greenland (6-3), where nearly half of its roster consists of seniors.
“He’s real strong in his legs. He’s worked hard on his upper body,” Larkan said of the 6-foot-1, 230-pound McClanahan. “For somebody who’s worked as hard, you’d think he’d be a lot stronger because he’s really put the time in.
“But probably when he’s 22, he’ll be just a dadgum giant.”
Joking aside, Larkan has relied on his especially large senior class to carry the load and lead Greenland to a 3A-1 Conference championship. With a small roster of around 35 players, the Pirates have turned to their upperclassmen to play critical roles this season, including all five starting positions on the offensive line.
Not surprisingly, it’s a close-knit senior class.
Many of Greenland’s seniors have been playing together since they were kids on the same Pee Wee football team. And they hope to extend their time together when they host Centerpoint (3-7) on Friday in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs.
“I believe we always do everything together,” McClanahan said. “When there’s one of us, there’s usually five, six, seven of us, a lot of us.”
McClanahan had spent his first two seasons at Greenland starting at defensive tackle. He was also a backup offensive lineman, but there was always someone ahead of him on the depth chart.
However, with a shortage of big bodies this season, Larkan decided to start McClanahan at both offensive and defensive tackle. The senior has picked up the blocking schemes and learned to use his improved strength to provide protection for versatile quarterback and fellow senior Darian Froud.
“You’ve got to be able to move,” McClanahan said. “Being as big as we are, we can move pretty well. People tell us that we can’t, but of course, we can. So, it’s definitely about moving pockets.”
Along with spending every day in the weight room, McClanahan said he prepared for his senior season by jogging around town to help him become more mobile. He’s gotten to the point where he now considers himself more of an offensive player than a defensive guy.
“He’s really become our best offensive lineman. He’s probably our best drive blocker,” Larkan said. “He’s had some really good games where he’s pancaked quite a few kids, and he’s really excelled on the offensive line this year.”