Jordan McCloud was a high school star who many believed couldn’t play quarterback at the college level.
Not only has McCloud proven those doubters wrong, but he’s also done so at four different schools.
Where did the Texas State quarterback play in high school, and how did he end up in San Marcos?
Where Did Jordan McCloud Play in High School?
McCloud comes from a football family, with older brother Ray-Ray playing for Clemson and ultimately carving out a nice NFL career.
But while McCloud was a star in high school, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that he would play quarterback for an FBS school.
Like his older brother, McCloud played at Sickles High School in Tampa, Fla. But Jordan McCloud transferred east to Plant City High School for his senior year.
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As a senior, he led Plant City to a 12-2 record and a state semifinal berth, throwing for 2,426 yards and adding 389 yards on the ground, finishing the year with 32 total touchdowns. But despite some early recruiting interest, McCloud never really turned into a hot name on the trail.
By the time he graduated, McCloud was the 66th-best dual-threat quarterback in the country and the 372nd-best player in the state of Florida in the 2018 class, despite being a 7A All-State selection.
He ultimately committed to the local USF Bulls over offers from teams like Boston College and Iowa State, enrolling in December 2017.
McCloud Hits 4 Colleges in 7 Years
Despite his lower ranking, McCloud challenged for the primary backup job behind Blake Barnett with former Sickles High School teammate Chris Oladokun. He ultimately redshirted without seeing game action but positioned himself well to challenge Barnett in 2019.
Entering 2019, the quarterback job was unsettled through two games, but McCloud was named the starter over Barnett in the third game after outplaying him in the first two. He kept the job all season, even through some freshman struggles.
The Bulls struggled in 2020, but McCloud played well. After the 2020 season, he entered the transfer portal and was able to transfer to Arizona.
In two years as the starter at USF, McCloud completed 224 out of 418 passes for 2,770 yards and 21 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions.
McCloud’s time at Arizona was complicated. After entering the 2021 season third on the depth chart, he took over as the starter by the third game. However, after seven promising quarters, he suffered a season-ending leg injury.
The next season, McCloud lost the quarterback battle to Jayden de Laura and then stepped away from the team before transferring to James Madison.
If Arizona was complicated, James Madison was simple.
Weirdly, McCloud didn’t enter the year as the starter. But after entering the game in the second half of the opening contest against Bucknell, McCloud was spectacular for the rest of the season.
McCloud was one of the best quarterbacks in the country last year, throwing for 3,657 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also ran for 276 yards and eight touchdowns as the Dukes went 10-2.
Once Curt Cignetti moved to Indiana, McCloud once again entered the transfer portal, but he didn’t end up with the Hoosiers, to the surprise of many.
McCloud floated in the portal with no home for his seventh year until a turn of events involving an old face gave him an opportunity.
de Laura had planned to play for Texas State, but complications arising from a past sexual assault case opened the door for McCloud. On Feb. 27, McCloud announced he was transferring to Texas State.
Finally, this time, McCloud won the starting job outright. Through two games, he’s thrown for 547 yards and five touchdowns, adding 39 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
His patience paid off, and now, McCloud is thriving. If the Bobcats make noise in the Sun Belt in 2024, it will be thanks in large part to McCloud.
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