BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Warren McClendon Jr., a Brunswick native and University of Georgia football player, is recovering from a horrific crash that killed a teammate and UGA staffer this weekend.
The crash happened early Sunday morning just hours after the team’s national championship celebration in Athens.
Devin Willock and staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed. Another member of the staff was also injured.
LeCroy was driving when the 2021 Ford Expedition left the road and struck two power poles and several trees, police said. Willock died on the scene and LeCroy died later after being taken to a hospital, police said.
“We are all heartbroken and devastated with the loss of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. Devin was an outstanding young man in every way and was always smiling. He was a great teammate and a joy to coach. Chandler was a valuable member of our football staff and brought an incredible attitude and energy every single day. We grieve with their families for this tragic loss and will support them in every way possible,” head coach Kirby Smart said in a statement.
News4JAX spent Monday in Brunswick talking to people who know McClendon, the Georgia junior and former Brunswick High School standout.
They said they were sad to know that two people lost their lives in that accident and send their prayers to that family.
“We grew up with the McClendon’s so of course my support is always going to be there for them,” said Joyce Chapple.
Chapple said right now she is hoping for a safe and speedy recovery for McClendon who is an offensive lineman at the University of Georgia.
He was in a car with three other people Sunday when it crashed killing teammate Devin Willock and UGA staffer Chandler LeCory. A fourth person also survived.
Chapple says she can’t imagine what the families of those two who died are going through but says they’re in her prayers.
And while McClendon gets better she says she’ll remember him how she knew him growing up.
“Very good guy,” said Chapple.
That description was echoed by McClendon’s former football coach at Brunswick High School, Sean Pender.
Pender said when he found out about the accident he immediately started calling around to see if he could find out any information.
Once he found out his former athlete didn’t have serious injuries, he breathed a sigh of relief and started to reminisce about the guy who played on his team.
“On the football team, he was a quiet leader. He got a little more boisterous his senior year, but when it comes to it, just an all-around person, he was just great,” Pender said.
Just a few days ago, McLendon declared he was going to start preparing for the NFL draft.