The reigning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, Jordan McCloud, attended SBC Media Days in New Orleans, but he’s representing a different side after leaving JMU to join Texas State head coach GJ Kinne in San Marcos.
A former collegiate quarterback himself at Tulsa (2008-2011), Kinne couldn’t help but gush over his new signal-caller during his time in the Crescent City. What did Kinne have to say about McCloud at Sun Belt Media Days?
Jordan McCloud Quickly Gained Respect From Texas State Players and Staff
Only three teams opted to bring a quarterback to Sun Belt Media Days: Appalachian State’s Joey Aguilar, Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor, and McCloud. All three played in the conference last season, but only McCloud switched uniforms, going from the Dukes to the Bobcats.
Despite transferring to Texas State midway through the semester just before spring practice began, Kinne said McCloud’s résumé earned him a spot on stage representing the Bobcats so quickly.
“That was something that maybe my background as a quarterback, there was probably a thought that went through my head that maybe you don’t bring (McCloud) because he wasn’t on our team last year,” Kinne said at the podium during Sun Belt Media Days.
“Since he played in the Sun Belt last year, reigning Sun Belt (Offensive) Player of the Year, I’m not going to punish him because he deserves to be here.
“Ever since he’s been here, he’s been an extremely hard worker. He’s built the relationships with his teammates and earned the respect of his teammates and coaches. Just real excited about what he did in the spring, the growth, and the work that he put in the summer. I’m excited to really see him next week when we start fall camp.”
McCloud’s ‘Professionalism’ Comes From a Strong Family
McCloud joined the team late but wasted little time acclimating to his new surroundings and appealing to his teammates as an instant leader on the team. At JMU last season, he led the Dukes to an 11-2 finish while throwing for 3,657 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
McCloud was one of four quarterbacks to throw for over 3,500 and 35 TDs — along with LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., and Oregon’s Bo Nix.
While stats and accolades for on-field performance are nice, Kinne said McCloud’s confident demeanor is what truly separates him.
“One thing that I think gets overlooked with McCloud coming over, not only from a playing ability, from a confidence ability and retaining your roster,” Kinne said after his press conference. “Somebody that’s played a ton of games in the Sun Belt and won a lot of games.
“The confidence he brings to the other players, that’s a big part of playing the quarterback position and being a leader of the team. He’s a great player and a great person. He’s somebody that brings a lot of confidence with him.”
That confidence has been instilled in him since an early age as the middle of a trio of football-playing brothers. McCloud’s older brother, Ray Ray, was a sixth-round pick out of Clemson in 2018 by the Buffalo Bills and currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. His younger brother, Kobe, is a sophomore linebacker at Clemson.
“That was something that really stood out to me in the recruiting process. Not only from his brother (Ray Ray McCloud), but from his mom and his dad. Obviously, he’s doing what he’s doing at the collegiate level, and he’s got another brother that plays college football (Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud).
“His mom and dad did a really good job of raising him. He does things the right way. There’s a certain level of professionalism that comes with Jordan McCloud that has been very refreshing and good to see.”