A 1993 graduate of Wintersville High School, Jeremy McClure joined the Malone football team for its inaugural season and quickly became a key component of the Pioneers’ early success on the gridiron. During his four-year playing career from 1993 to 1996, McClure helped Malone tally an impressive 27-12-2 overall record.
McClure contributed all over the field during his time in a Pioneer uniform, serving as a starting defensive back and punt returner for four years in addition to handling punting duties for two seasons. He excelled at each of these positions and still holds five Malone records. McClure is currently tied for the most interceptions in a season with five and has the most career interceptions with thirteen. He is also tied for the longest punt in Malone history at 76 yards and holds records for most punt return yards in a game with 107 and longest punt return at 68 yards.
He received First Team All-Conference recognition from the Mid-States Football Association following the 1994, 1995, and 1996 seasons. McClure is also one of just five Malone football players to receive the prestigious NAIA All-America distinction, having been named NAIA All-America Honorable Mention in 1995 before receiving NAIA All-America Second Team accolades in 1996.
However, McClure provided much more than just versatility, records and awards to Malone’s new football program. Mike Miller, a former Malone assistant coach, recalled that McClure “was not only a great football player but an outstanding individual as well. I witnessed first hand the character and integrity Jeremy displayed every day both on and off the field,” stated Miller. “He was the ultimate team player.”
Even opposing coaches noticed his contributions. Speaking of McClure in a recommendation letter to the Malone Athletics Hall of Fame Committee, longtime Walsh University head football coach Jim Dennison stated, “He represented your program in a first-class manner and added to the spirit of our rivalry. I would recommend Jeremy without reservation.”
After graduating from Malone in 1998 with a degree in Communication Arts, McClure remained at the university for several years as an admissions counselor. He is currently employed as a manager for the Flagship Mortgage Corporation in Fairlawn. He and his wife, Tracy, have one son, Luke, who is 18 months old and they are expecting their second child in April. The McClure family currently resides in Uniontown.
McClure now joins Sean James and Dan DeGeorge as the third football player to be inducted into the Malone University Athletics Hall of Fame.
