GRANGER – Granger Lions senior running back and linebacker DJ McClelland was named the Offensive Player of the Year for 2A-D2 class.
McClelland was a big part of the Lions success this past season and capped off his senior season with one of the most dominate seasons in all of Class 2A.
McClelland is a big, strong runner that welcomes contact, and can pretty much do it all on offense. He became the guy the Lions look to when it is late in the game and needed a score.
When the Lions were in the red zone all eyes were on No. 3 as he was agile and strong enough to find the endzone. McClelland would finish the season with 1,192 yards and 16 touchdowns, and while he and a nose for the endzone it was not always successful.
McClelland would not always deliver with a score but would set his team up and open up the field for his teammates to make a play to win the game, and they would. McClelland was also a leader for the Lions, and their homecoming game where McClelland left early with an injury is where his leadership shined.
When McClelland left the game, the crowd was a little quieter of concern over their young athlete, but what fans did not see was McClelland walking up and down the sideline keeping his teammates motivated and hungry for a win. The team fed off of McClelland’s energy and went on to win the game and secure a playoff spot.
Not only was McClelland a productive offensive player, he was a leader for the Lions and when called upon, no matter how big or small, he answered. Especially when his head coach Stephen Brosch told him before the season that he would be returning kicks.
McClelland would again make the most of the opportunity and would end up running three kickoffs for touchdowns. Those efforts would earn McClelland another honor of being named to the first team All-State kick returner.
