One to Watch Interview: Georgia 2025 CB Revis McClairen
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Reps, reps, and more reps, with any sport, especially football, constant and consistent work at one’s position goes towards perfecting the craft. Out of River Ridge High School in Woodstock, Georgia, Revis McClairen (6-1, 165) is dedicated to that practice. The 2025 corner got meaningful reps on the gridiron last fall and kept at his trade this offseason with national 7-on-7 team Grind Factory. The time spent on the field has attracted attention this summer at college camps.
The spring months on the road playing 7-on-7 tournaments has made a difference.
“I’m playing corner this season, but with Grind Factory, I played a lot of nickel,” McClairen said. “Playing nickel is all about staying with your guy, it is the same concept as an outside corner.”
With the Knights, the secondary executes different coverages.
“Our coaches have faith in us,” McClairen stated. “We press on 1, run Cover 4, and we do run some Cover 3, but we are a dominate Cover 4 team.”
Revis McClairen with Grind Factory.
Preparing for the fall varsity grind, McClairen talked about his spring and summer focus.
“This offseason I have been working on my technique and speed to hang with those great receivers,” McClairen shared. “I’m working on good hip direction, staying on top of routes, my strength, and gaining weight to be more physical with receivers.”
On the speed front, McClairen is getting to where he wants.
“My goal is to run 4.5 and below; I’ve been working on my speed,” McClairen said. “I’m running a 4.63, but that is more my technique. I will be able to get that time very soon.”
All the offseason pieces are coming together.
“Those extra reps helped a lot, especially with my technique,” McClairen stated. “My high school coaches want me to have a bigger role this year. At first it was a struggle because my technique wasn’t there but by the end of the spring it improved a lot. I was staying with all receivers.
“Working on my speed, that helped, and I have gained 10 pounds this offseason. This offseason I have been more physical, that translated into spring and in our spring game. It all translated and helped a lot. My confidence level grew. Grind Factory really helped me.”
McClairen has worked this summer at the Berry Elite Camp, Georgia Southern, and Vanderbilt camps. The showcase in front of the Commodores’ coaches was covered.
“That camp went great, and I went against good competition,” McClairen shared. “I got in a lot of reps; that helped with coaches talking to me. Winning the majority of my reps, they focused on me. I have learned how to stay on top of these receivers; I learn something each time at these camps.”
The winning nature at the camps brought post-camp dialogue with college coaches.
“At Georgia Southern, I talked to coach (Kevin) Whitley (CB) and at Vanderbilt, I talked to their assistant coach Justin Harris; he’s an ex-Vandy player. He said he liked how I played; he was coaching me up. He was coaching me up on releases and on me sticking my arm out; I won all of those reps. I talked to him at the camp, he was coaching me up, I really appreciated it.”
Recruiting interest has come McClairen’s way from all the camps.
“Ivy league schools are showing interest,” McClairen said. “I have received camp invites from schools like Penn and Dartmouth. At the Berry camp, one of Harvard’s coaches, coach (Ryan) Crawford (DB), said ‘I love how you played and carried yourself’. UPenn’s running backs coach, coach (David) Sims, he recruits our area, said he liked how I played and asked me to send my transcripts as well.”
More recruiting interest is to be stirred before the 2023 season begins with a planned camp stop at Tennessee-Chattanooga on July 21.