Upper Arlington's Connor McClellan off and running despite setbacks

When Connor McClellan received the news that he would need surgery to repair torn meniscus in his right knee, he was momentarily overwhelmed with feelings of disbelief, sadness and frustration.

The Upper Arlington running back’s biggest fear – after he injured his knee while playing lacrosse for the Golden Bears during their 8-7 overtime loss to Cincinnati St. Xavier in a Division I state semifinal on May 31, 2023 – was that his setback would cause him to miss part or all of his senior football season.

“The lowest moment was sitting there icing my knee and hearing the crushing diagnosis,” McClellan said. “I had felt a minor tweak in my knee while playing lacrosse, and went to get an MRI as a precaution, but I didn’t think that I would need surgery.

“I was devastated because I had already had the same surgery on my left knee the year before, and it took over four months to heal, so I was upset and worried, because I didn’t know if this was going to cost me my senior season.”

But after undergoing surgery on June 9, and then working relentlessly with Upper Arlington athletic trainer Tom Evans and physical therapists at Orthopedic One to rehabilitate his right knee, McClellan began attending football camps and training with his teammates on the football team again just a month later.

And after getting cleared to resume playing with full contact just weeks before the Golden Bears’ season opener, McClellan has roared back stronger than ever, as he’s already rushed for a team-high 285 yards and three touchdowns on just 30 carries. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound tailback, who is averaging an eye-popping 9.5 yards per attempt, also has a touchdown reception for the Golden Bears, who are 2-1 overall and No. 13 in the current SBLive Ohio Power 25 rankings heading into Friday night's game against Westerville Central.

“Connor’s overcome a lot of adversity to make it back in time to play in our opener, and he’s making a big impact as one of our senior leaders, both verbally and with how well he’s playing,” fourth-year Upper Arlington coach Justin Buttermore said. “We weren’t really sure when he’d be back, because we were very committed to making sure he was 100 percent healthy first, but Connor’s a very positive kid and he attacked his rehab instead of dwelling on his injury.

“Connor’s a lot faster than he was last year, and he’s a very physical runner. He’s a 200-pound back, but he plays bigger than that and often breaks tackles. He’s improved his balance and his ability to start and stop quickly, and he’s become a make-you-miss back as well.”

McClellan credits the support of his coaches, teammates, family, doctors and trainers for his quick return to action.

Ironically, McClellan’s surgery was performed by Jeff Backes, who rushed for a then-state record 3,353 yards and 44 touchdowns during the 2000 season, while leading Upper Arlington to a 15-0 record and its first Division I state championship. Backes, who was named Ohio’s Mr. Football in 2000, went on to play football at Northwestern University after graduating from Upper Arlington 2001.

“I was upset that I had to have another knee surgery, but I realized that other people have had to overcome worse problems, and I’m super-lucky to have access to all of this great health care,” McClellan said. “So I just worked as hard as I could to rehab my knee so I could get back out there as soon as possible to help my team win

“I’m so grateful for all of the support I’ve received, and I was so thankful when I made it back in time to play in our season opener.”

After rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries to help the Golden Bears beat Reynoldsburg 35-6 in their home opener on Aug. 18, McClellan exploded for a career-best 217 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts to lead his squad to a 41-14 victory at Big Walnut on Aug. 25.

“Our team played great at Big Walnut and it felt incredible to have a game like that because I didn’t know if I was even going to be able to play at all this season not too long ago,” McClellan said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates getting me the ball and blocking for me, though.

“It just feels so great to be healthy and playing the position that I love so much, because it’s been a long and grueling journey to get to this point.”

Indeed, McClellan has been dreaming of developing into a star running back as far back as he can remember, as he grew up watching football with his father, Rand, who played linebacker at Colgate University before graduating in 1997.

Connor’s mother, Wendy, played soccer at Colgate in the 1990s, and his younger brothers Spencer (sophomore at Upper Arlington) and Chase (seventh grade at Jones Middle School) both play football as well.

Rand’s father, C.J., also played fullback at the University of Florida in the early 1960s.

“Growing up, I was always watching football on TV or throwing a football in my backyard,” Connor said. “We even marked off yards in our basement to create a little field down there, and I started playing flag football when I was in kindergarten.

“My dad has taught me so much about football in general, and my mom and grandpa have always taught me great lessons as well. I have the best parents I could ask for, and they’re the ones who taught me to keep working hard and fighting my way through adversity.”

After manning the running back position for the Northam recreational league team as a sixth grader, McClellan began playing football at Jones Middle School, where he competed as an offensive lineman, defensive lineman and linebacker for two seasons.

While playing freshman football, McClellan started as a defensive lineman and was a backup offensive lineman. 

As a sophomore, McClellan started the season playing linebacker for the Golden Bears’ junior varsity squad.

“I spent four years playing the sport I love, but not the position I love,” McClellan said. “I have tremendous respect for offensive linemen, and I couldn’t be successful without them, but I wanted to be running behind them instead of playing next to them.

“I always knew I would be better off at running back, but I was happy to play the sport with my best friends. I just kept doing everything I could to help my team in any way I could, and I imagined that someday I would get a shot at running the ball.”

That opportunity finally presented itself midway through McClellan’s sophomore season when his coach put him in at running back and he scored a touchdown fairly quickly.

“I ran for two touchdowns that were called back and another one that counted in that game,” McClellan said. “I did well enough that I stayed in the running back rotation the rest of the year.”

McClellan was feeling on top of the world when he earned a spot on Upper Arlington’s varsity lacrosse team the following spring.

But his fortunes quickly changed when he tore the meniscus in his left knee while participating in an early-season practice.

Grant Jones, who serves as the head physician for the Ohio State men’s basketball team and the Columbus Clippers, surgically repaired McClellan’s knee, but the recovery process was long and painful.

“We were just doing a routine drill and I planted my left knee and heard a pop, and it hurt so bad afterwards that I couldn’t walk without a limp,” McClellan said. “I was bedridden for four days after the surgery and rehab took longer than anyone predicted, and I missed the rest of lacrosse season.

“I continued showing up to all the lacrosse events, though, and I had the privilege of being the water boy, and helping out in any other way I could, for our state championship team.”

Just as McClellan’s knee was getting back to full strength, he fell ill with mononucleosis.

“Getting mono was another big setback,” McClellan said. “I was so sick I lost 15 pounds because I couldn’t work out, and it hurt my throat just to breathe.

“I didn’t get any running back reps during our first scrimmage, and I had to prove myself all over again. I was second string behind Jack (Ubert) the first three games of my junior season, until he unfortunately suffered an ankle injury during week four. Jack taught me a lot about how to play the position in our offense, and we became co-starters after that, rotating drives at running back.”

McClellan eventually emerged as the Golden Bears’ leading rusher through the first seven games, before hyperextending his right knee while getting tackled from behind during a practice, which forced him to miss the remainder of the regular season and Upper Arlington’s first two playoff games.

He did return to carry the ball twice during the Golden Bears’ 20-7 loss to New Albany in a Division I regional semifinal, but was limited to negative-3 yards.

“That injury was a lot scarier than my meniscus tear, because I thought my ACL was gone,” McClellan said. “I was relieved that I didn’t need another surgery, but frustrated that I had to miss our first two playoff games, and when I did play in the regional semis, I wasn’t myself.”

In limited action, McClellan still managed to rush for a team-high 486 yards and seven touchdowns on just 87 carries, and had four receptions for 76 yards and a score, while Ubert ran for 385 yards and four scores on 118 attempts.

McClellan was named second-team all-Ohio Capital Conference-Central Division and honorable mention all-district for the Golden Bears, who finished 10-3 overall and tied Dublin Coffman for first in OCC-Central with a 4-1 league record.

“I’ve been friends with Connor since the first grade, and I’m really happy for him because this is something he’s always wanted,” Upper Arlington senior middle linebacker George Gerber said. “He’s always been a great athlete and he was never given a chance to play this position his entire life. But he just kept saying “I want to play running back,” again and again over the years, and when he finally got his shot to prove himself, he did prove that he can do it.

“He’s been through so much, between getting mono and his injuries, but he really committed himself to getting better. He’s worked hard every single day to heal his body, and get stronger and faster, and he’s finally healthy and showing everyone what he can do.”

Rand wishes Connor didn’t have to endure so many physical setbacks during the first 17 years of his life – including having to receive immediate medical attention on three occasions after having bad reactions to his peanut and pine nut allergies –­ but he is pleased that his oldest son has persevered and emerged mentally tougher.

“I’m definitely proud of how well Connor has handled all of this,” Rand said. “Ultimately, what he’s gone through will serve him well in life as he gets older.”

Connor, who carries a 4.13 cumulative grade point average, appears to have a bright future both academically and athletically.

During McClellan’s second knee operation, his surgeons determined that he had discoid meniscus in each knee, which is an anatomical variant from the normal crescent-shaped meniscus and more prone to injury.

“I learned that I was born with an extra part in both of my meniscus, which is both a blessing and a curse,” McClellan said. “The bad news is that’s why I tore them, but the good news is they just had to remove the extra parts during surgery, so I’m very thankful to still have healthy meniscus in both knees.”

McClellan is hoping to continue playing well enough to catch the eye of a college football coach who is in need of his services.

“My parents both went to Colgate, which is a great school, and they’ve always stressed the importance of studying as hard as I can,” McClellan said. “I’m a student-athlete, but I’m a student first. I just want to find a place that gives me a great balance between academics and athletics, and it doesn’t matter if it’s Division I or Division III.”

And while McClellan continues to ponder his future, he is savoring every moment of his senior football season.

“I love running the ball, there’s no other feeling like it,” McClellan said. “Being out there running the ball with my teammates, who I love playing with so much, I feel like everything has come full circle. Being overlooked and not getting to play my favorite position for so many years, and then having those injuries, was great motivation to keep working harder.

“My journey to reach this point has taught me that you have to keep fighting and getting back up, no matter what adversity you might face in life.”

(All photos in this story were provided by the McClellan family)