CHATTANOOGA — Jacques McClendon has a debt to repay.

The Chattanooga Baylor School offensive lineman vows he'll remember the one person who best prepared him for success, the one person who was his closest friend and primary disciplinarian.

The one person he could never forget is his mother.

Stephanie McClendon reared Jacques by herself, a single mother with no husband to lend a helping hand. Now, her son, considered by many recruiting services as one of the top prospects in the nation, will play football at the University of Tennessee after signing Wednesday.

"She's done everything and more," said McClendon (6-foot-3, 320 pounds), who is UT's highest-rated signee in the Class of 2006. "She's given me something that I'm going to keep forever and that's love. A lot of people don't have that at home.

"Whenever I make it big at whatever I do, whether it's being a big business man or hopefully, playing in the NFL, I'll make sure she's the first one I do something for."

Stephanie, however, isn't looking for material payback. She wants something far more valuable.

"When he has children of his own," she asks of her son, "that he's a good example and supports them in all their endeavors."

Sitting around a table in a downtown barbeque restaurant in Chattanooga, Stephanie admits it wasn't always easy raising a son on her own but the trials and tribulations strengthened their bond and her resolve.

"It was tough at first but now, I'm ready," Stephanie said, while giving her son a look out of the corner of her eye. "Bring it on."

The Recruiting Journey

Jacques McClendon was UT's first commitment of the 2006 class when he made a verbal pledge in December of 2004. McClendon announced his decision to keep other schools at bay and enjoy his final year in high school. Did it work?

Not really.

"It avoided an onslaught of 30 to 40 colleges," McClendon said. "Instead, it was just like six or seven that were still talking to me."

McClendon listened but stuck firm with the Vols until the football team unraveled last season.

UT finished 5-6 and replaced three offensive coaches, the same coaches who McClendon had come to know when he visited UT during his sophomore and junior years.

"It's the fact that they were going through coaching changes that had me looking," McClendon said. "I wanted to see how it panned out."

McClendon's commitment was, admittedly, in doubt until he took his official visit to Knoxville on Dec. 9. Auburn, Florida and Alabama were all looking to capitalize on UT's misfortunes. Then, David Cutcliffe was named offensive coordinator.

"I was really just interested to see what they were going to do with the offense," McClendon said, recalling his meeting with Cutcliffe. "He made me feel comfortable."

McClendon also appreciated UT's next coaching move. Former assistant offensive line/tight ends coach Greg Adkins was promoted to lead UT's entire offensive line.

"He's a great guy," McClendon said of Adkins. "I love him. Them hiring him was a great big plus."

McClendon was again determined to be a Vol.

Preparing for the Future

When McClendon was in eighth grade he never dreamed of going to Baylor, never dreamed of being a boarding student at one of the finest private schools in Tennessee. That was before fate intervened.

"I had no desire to go to Baylor but one of my friends asked me to take the placement test with him," McClendon said. "I took the placement test and scored real, real high. They called back and said you have a full scholarship here."

Baylor's doors were suddenly open and, best of all, the $30,000 annual tuition was waived, thanks to a scholarship. It wasn't technically an athletic scholarship but McClendon's football reputation didn't hurt.

"They knew who I was," McClendon said with a smile.

College coaches all agree that McClendon has plenty of potential. Much of that prospective talent, especially when it comes to playing on the offensive line, is untapped.

McClendon didn't play on Baylor's offensive line, which was coached by former NFL and Alabama star John Hannah. Instead, he played fullback and defensive tackle — making him likely the only highly ranked offensive lineman in the country who didn't play on his high school team's offensive line.

McClendon isn't worried about the transition.

"They like to get athletic defensive types and put them on the offensive line," he said, referring to the Vols. "With Coach (Phillip) Fulmer and Coach Adkins, I wouldn't think it would take that long."

While Baylor might not have done the best job preparing McClendon as an offensive lineman, it definitely had its benefits.

"In college, it probably won't be near as hard," McClendon said of the transition. "I'll have to work but it won't be near as hard because I'll be adjusted."

Heading North

It's hard to be around McClendon and not be struck by his personality. He almost always smiles and seems mature beyond his years. Just when Stephanie McClendon hears such compliments, she is quick to bring him back down to earth.

"He's got some work to do," Stephanie said.

Stephanie won't face the same emotions that most signees' families endure when their sons leave home for college. After all, her son has been living away from her Cleveland home for four years while he lived at Baylor.

"I don't think it will be tough at all," Stephanie said. "I think it will be a good transition. I'm excited for him."

McClendon just smiles when his mom is asked where she wanted her son to go to college.

"I told him whatever school he felt was the best for him, I would support him," Stephanie said. "It was totally up to him."

Jacque wasn't letting his mother off the hook that easy. After some prodding, Stephanie admitted, ever so slightly, that UT always had its benefits.

"I said," Stephanie relented with a smile, "that I could come to more games if you were closer."

"Closer" meant Knoxville, where the McClendon recruiting saga began and where, after 13 months, it will end because of Jacques' signing on Wednesday.

"It's just hard to think how things have gone so fast," McClendon said. "I'm ready to turn the page and start a new chapter."