McClain attended high school at Seminole. In McClain's high school career he led his team to 40 wins where he passed for 6,351 yards and ran for 940 yards, while also adding 85 total touchdowns.[1] McClain would decide to commit to play college football at the University of South Florida.[2][3]
College career
South Florida
In McClain's first career start in week three of the 2021 season, he would complete 12 out of his 23 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, as he helped the Bulls pick up their first win beating Florida A&M.[4] After week three McClain would take over as the team's full time starting quarterback.[5] McClain finished the 2021 season with nine starts, where he completed 55.8% of his pass attempts for 1,888 yards and five touchdowns with seven interception, while also adding 238 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.[6] After losing the starting quarterback spot to Gerry Bohanon for the 2022 season, McClain would decide to enter the NCAA transfer portal.[7][8]
UCF
McClain would decide to transfer to the University of Central Florida to continue out the rest of his college career.[9][10] In McClain's first season with UCF in 2022, he would redshirt and would not appear in any games.[11] In week three of the 2023 season, McClain would get his first start with UCF after John Rhys Plumlee went down with a leg injury. In his first start McClain would complete 20 of his 28 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 44 yards on the ground, as helped UCF beat Villanova 48-14.[12] In week five, McClain would complete 13 of his 25 passing attempts for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding a touchdown with his legs, but UCF would fall to Baylor 36-35.[13] On April 15, 2024, McClain entered the transfer portal.[14]
Arkansas State
On May 3, 2024, it was announced that McClain would be transferring to Arkansas State.[14][15]
McClain competed for the starting quarterback job with Jaylen Raynor. Raynor was named the starter to open the season.[16] Trailing 28–3 in the second half of week 3 against Michigan, McClain made his Red Wolves debut when he relieved Raynor. McClain threw his first two touchdown passes of the season in back to back drives in his only two series.[17] He relieved Raynor once again the following week against Iowa State and threw his third touchdown of the season for the Red Wolves only score of the game.[18]