University of North Texas Athletics
McClain's Houston Homecoming
11/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON - An illustrious collegiate career for senior safety Kishawn McClain is approaching the finish line. One final regular season stop remains, a trip home to Houston to close the Conference USA season at Rice.
McClain grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, a shade under 30 miles from Rice Stadium. He starred at B.F. Terry High School, as so many family members did before him.
Being able to close the regular season chapter of his North Texas career so close to home in front of so many that are important to him carries even more meaning for the senior.
"It's going to be fun and I'm going to have a lot of people there," McClain said. "I've got a lot of friends, a lot of family, former coaches and I'm going to try to make sure I put on a show for them. I'm looking forward to seeing the smiles on everybody's' faces and their excitement to see me play my last regular season game back home."
McClain and the senior class has endured a lot during their time in Denton. They have seen hard times at the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision landscape, a coaching transition and a complete turnaround throughout the last three years.
The Rosenberg native has played a key role in that positive shift, leading the Mean Green defense.
The McClain family has tons of roots in the greater Houston area, and several members of the family are all over the record books at Terry High School. McClain's late father starred there, his brothers and cousins and uncles did as well.
A walk through the field house just across the street from McClain's grandmother's home is proof of the legacy left behind by the McClain family. Several photos and the names of the McClain family adorn those walls.
The opportunity to return home for one final ride is something McClain has been looking forward to since the 2017 schedule was released.
McClain's family roots run deep. After tragedy struck at a young age and McClain lost his father, several around him took on additional responsibility to make sure Kishawn stayed on the correct path. His uncles, cousins and grandparents stepped up, and in the case of his grandfather, took on the essential father-figure role in McClain's life.
A bond was forged as the family came together, and much of that was centered around football, McClain's first love. At a young age, those around McClain knew he had something special, like those before him.
He was the one that made it. He arrived in Denton in 2014 and has led the Mean Green in tackles twice (2015 and 2016). McClain is the team's second-leading tackler heading into this week's contest and is just six tackles behind Lance Whyte for seventh place on the school's career tackle list.
McClain has left an indelible mark on the North Texas program and through his leadership both on and off the field, has helped transform North Texas into a contender in Conference USA.
McClain and the Mean Green enter week 13 at 8-3 and 6-1 in conference with a spot in the C-USA Championship Game against Florida Atlantic sewn up. What's at stake is a chance to secure a ninth win, something only done six times before in North Texas history.
"My senior year has been great," McClain said. "We've been winning and you can't ask for anything more than having the chance to play for the conference championship. We've been working hard and we are not finished yet."
What's next for McClain in the immediate future is three more games at North Texas. Starting that next game in his backyard with family and friends in the stands will spark plenty of emotions from all involved.
