McClendon Curtis: Mountain-Sized Mentor

6-foot-7, 330 pounds, but Curtis is fun, not frightening, to kids

By Chuck Wasserstrom

McClendon Curtis enjoys mentoring kids, both on and off the football field.

Curtis, an offensive lineman on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team, laughs as he tells the story about one of his experiences from the summer.

“I was working at the YMCA, just sitting on the ground and talking to one of the kids,” says Curtis, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs nearly 330 pounds. “All of a sudden, all the kids started coming over and jumping on me. That is one of the best parts of being a big guy, and I loved it.

“The most fun thing for me is playing with the kids. They expect you to act a certain way and, once they see you acting accordingly, they’ll act how you act. They’re like sponges at that age. I love being around children, seeing them smile and looking up to you and making their day.”

During his time with the Mocs, Curtis, a graduate of Central High School in Chattanooga, has participated in numerous community-related initiatives aimed at children. One involved reconnecting with a former teacher at Adonai Academy, Shannon Efiom, when he visited her students as part of an annual reading day.

“She now teaches at Hardy Elementary School, and it was so amazing to talk to and read to the kids,” Curtis says. “Just having somebody read to you may seem like a minimum thing to most people, but that can make a kid’s day. ‘Hey, somebody besides our teacher wants to read to us. Somebody besides our teacher wants to spend time with us.’

“You could be the highlight of their day today, and you might be their motivation to get there one day where they can help someone else.”

Curtis understands the importance of giving back and making an impact on others. He has been on the other side; he recalls moving from place to place as a youngster, including staying in a woman’s shelter, until his mother (Angelina Curtis) could make ends meet.

“My mom is great, and she worked all the time making sure I had everything I needed. She just needed some help,” he says. “Everybody needs help raising kids. It takes a village.

“Not forgetting where I came from is important to me, and I’m not afraid to talk about it. Everything that I’ve experienced in my life has made me who I am today. And the opportunities you’re given, you have to be able to capitalize on them.”

Curtis, an all-Southern Conference offensive lineman last season, has brought a mentoring aspect to his role as a student-athlete. This summer, he joined Mocs soccer student-athlete A.K. Anderson in creating a bridge program for incoming freshmen student-athletes that helped UTC newcomers transition to college life.

“It meant so much helping incoming freshmen understand how to prepare for college,” Curtis says. “A.K. talked about ‘the red zone’ with the girls, while I talked with the boys about how to treat women and how to be appropriate on campus—just teaching them life skills.

“And we taught all of them about being a student-athlete and the balance of being a regular college student. You have to learn how to prioritize. Be the one sitting up front in class and look attentive; your professor enjoys that. Get your work done early in the week; you’ve got to do the work first to be able to play.”

In September, he was appointed to the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Connection Group, one of 12 college athletes nationwide to be chosen.

Curtis aspires to become an academic advisor, having gained experience interning in that role with the Mocs. He began pursuing a master’s degree in school leadership this fall after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in May 2021 and has two years of athletic eligibility remaining.

“Mentorship is so important. Everyone needs someone to look up to, someone who can help lead you down the right path,” Curtis says. “Football only lasts so long, so having a degree and being able to communicate with the real world is important. That’s why I want to be an academic advisor. That’s how I can give back.”

Shannon Efiom, McClendon Curtis