Raiders signed UT-Chattanooga OG McClendon Curtis
Curtis (6’6/325) was a 2-star recruit, and the 205th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2017 recruiting class, from Harrison, Tennessee according to 247 Sports. Curtis is a big-bodied bully guard with the nastiness to finish blocks. Though he didn’t test particularly well at the Combine, his tape shows a lineman with the patience and footwork to work around on pulls or seal the inside. While the All-American demonstrates good enough core strength to anchor against pass rushes, he can get a bit too far over his toes when the defender employs a jerk move or uses a speed move while engaged. He does a good job of maintaining spatial awareness by keeping his hands on adjacent blocks when he is looking for work. He will need to be more consistent in finding his power from his hips, especially on punches, but once engaged he does a good job of creating leverage by getting underneath the defender’s shoulder pads. Like his old teammate, Cole Strange, don’t be surprised if Curtis goes earlier than expected as a Power-heavy team will fall in love with his size and strength.
