Saluki Football supports new Cleveland Browns corner Jeremiah McClendon on his NFL journey

CARBONDALE, Ill. — National Football League rookie and Saluki Football alum Jeremiah McClendon signed with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, a major step in his professional career after being released by the New Orleans Saints last May.

Throughout the process of McClendon (aka J Black) trying to catch-on with an NFL team, Saluki Football has been a source of support and encouragement for the young cornerback.

The Cleveland Browns announced on X on Thursday that they've signed SIU cornerback Jeremiah McClendon

“I kept telling him, man, your phone's gonna ring,” said SIU cornerbacks coach Eriq Moore. “Hold yourself accountable to make sure that you're ready when that call comes, and he's done that.”

Head coach Nick Hill compared McClendon’s situation to that of third-year Saluki pro safety PJ Jules, who broke into the league with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025 after spending time on the team’s practice squad.

“All it takes when it's someone like Jay Black or PJ, is an opportunity,” Hill said. “Pro football is a long road, and you gotta have a vision for yourself and a love for the game. He has that, and I think he'll go and bring a lot of energy to the Browns, whether it’s on defense or special teams.”

Moore said McClendon is still part of the SIU corner room’s group message chat, where he draws encouragement from his former teammates.

“He had a tryout with the (New England) Patriots last week,” Moore said. “Each time he would message me about a workout, I would tell the guys, and then we would all give him a lot of support through the group message.”

McClendon was in Carbondale during the summer and spent time at Moore’s house.

“All of the ‘Jack Boys’ from last year's team came over and we had a little tournament going,” Moore explained. “We played some HORSE on the basketball hoop and had a Nintendo Switch bowling tournament. J Black's a good bowler now.”

Cornerbacks coach Eriq Moore continues to support McClendon on his NFL journey.

When the corner room heard the news last night that McClendon’s signing with Cleveland was imminent, the group was ecstatic.

“The Jack Boys were geeked up for him,” Moore smiled. “We sent him text messages and our support. Then I texted my wife, and she's just as excited as I am.”

Moore’s wife, Unique, cooks for the corners when they visit his house, and she recently made cookies for them.

“It’s nice for the guys to see coaches as someone different than just a guy with a whistle,” Moore said. “Seeing me as a husband, as a dad, I think that's important.”

“Once I coach you and we’ve built that relationship, I would like for that thing to go on forever,” Moore continued. “I feel that it definitely has with J Black.”

The Browns are just two days away from playing their exhibition opener at the Chicago Bears, so McClendon will be cramming the playbook to get ready.

“It's an unbelievable opportunity for him,” Hill said. “They're in the middle of training camp and about to start preseason games, so that means he’s getting thrown into the action pretty quickly.”