McClure happy to be back with Razorbacks
FAYETTEVILLE - For almost the first time he can remember during his 24 years, D’Vone McClure in 2017 spent the spring, summer and fall not playing ball or preparing to play ball.
Apparently, it all but undid him.
Because the former Jacksonville High School football/baseball star from nearby Rixey first retired from baseball after four years signed out of high school in the Cleveland Indians organization, and then retired after his 2016 season as a reserve receiver/special teamer with former coach Bret Bielema’s football
Razorbacks, is balling again. He not only plays Arkansas football again, but likely will start whenever new coach Chad Morris’ Razorbacks open with their 4-3 defense using a nickel back instead of a traditional Sam outside linebacker.
What prompted McClure’s return from regular UA student to Razorbacks football?
“Sitting out that year just made me hungrier,” McClure said. “Made me realize what I needed to do better and needed to work on. Things were just out of place with me not being able to compete. I just wanted to go through the fire and be out there. I needed to be out there.”
What was life like without ball?
“It was different,” McClure said. “I got to hang out with my family. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I loved it. But I was missing that part of my life that made my life what it was. It’s what I’ve done since I was a kid. And it was hard to watch dudes that I have grinded with compete without me being out there. I felt there was something I needed to finish and I’m out here to do it.”
So with Tanner Burns, in special teams/ quality control for Bielema and retained to do the same by Morris, McClure used the bridge between eras to commencing linking
with the Razorbacks again shortly after Morris’ hiring in December.
“I hit up Tanner Burns and he said, ‘Come see me at the first of January,’” McClure said. “That was my first year not playing football or baseball and I just felt empty without it. So I just knew I had to come do it.”
McClure returned as the receiver he had been.
Obviously, that changed for the 6-2, 215 pounder before spring drills began.
“I think the coaches know my demeanor and my body more fits defense,” McClure said. “So that’s the change we made and it’s been great. I
ing, but I think we’re around 20. With school starting this week, I’ve gained about five or six of them, so a lot of them don’t know the formats.
“It’s almost like the NFL. You just try to get them in there and get them to play as good as possible and find out who can produce.”
With their annual Blue & White Game rained out last week, Parkers Chapel coach Jacob Midyett said he is hoping several position battles will be resolved with tonight’s game.
“We’re looking to clear up some position battles,” Midyett said. “We’re trying to make sure we’re able to get in rhythm both offensively and defensively.
“Most importantly, we’re ready to see us compete
and hit someone other than each other.”
Smackover and Parkers Chapel open their seasons at the Hooten’s Kickoff Classic a week from Monday, and first-year coach Brian Brown wants to see several things from the Bucks.
“We want to go over there and run our base offense and defense,” Brown said.
“We’re looking to get some backups some extra time to see where they fit. We want to see if we can line up on special teams and get some conditioning work.”
After taking on Nashville in their benefit game on Monday, El Dorado will host its annual Purple & White Game tonight at Memorial Stadium.
The gates will open at 5 p.m. with the action set to get underway at 5:30 p.m.