TK McLendon Jr. Bio
Tonyist Karnez McLendon Jr., widely known as T. K. McLendon Jr., is an American professional football defensive end who has spent time in the National Football League (NFL) and the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed at 275 lb, he brings a tall, long-framed build to the defensive line. He is best known for his time with the Tennessee Titans, where he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and contributed as a rookie.
A native of Soperton, Georgia, McLendon took a winding route to the professional ranks, playing at three different college programs before earning his opportunity. His career has reflected steady perseverance, from a small-town high school to major conference competition at LSU, and finally to a productive stretch at Eastern Kentucky that opened the door to professional football.
Early Life and Background
Tonyist Karnez McLendon Jr. was born on February 27, 1999, in Soperton, Georgia, a small community in Treutlen County in the central part of the state. He grew up in this rural South Georgia setting, where high school football is a central part of community life and where young athletes often use the sport as a pathway to opportunity. His early football exposure came through youth leagues and the local high school program, laying the foundation for a long athletic build and an interest in playing on the defensive line.
McLendon attended Treutlen County High School in Soperton, where he developed as a defensive prospect. The high school program gave him his first organized stage to showcase his size and quickness off the edge. His performances there attracted attention from college recruiters, eventually opening the door to a postsecondary path that would span multiple institutions and levels of competition.
Path to American Football
After finishing his prep career at Treutlen County, McLendon began his college journey at Copiah–Lincoln Community College, where he played from 2017 to 2018. The junior college level provided him a chance to refine his technique against experienced competition and to physically mature into a Division I-caliber defensive end. His time at Copiah–Lincoln was a formative step, helping him earn a transfer to a Power Five program.
In 2019, McLendon moved on to LSU, where he spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the LSU Tigers. Competing in the Southeastern Conference, one of the most demanding conferences in college football, gave him valuable experience against top-tier offensive tackles. He then transferred to Eastern Kentucky, where he played for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in 2021 and 2022. His two seasons with the Colonels represented his most productive college stretch, helping him position himself for a professional opportunity as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
TK McLendon Jr. Career
Early Career (2023)
McLendon signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023, beginning his professional career. The path was not immediate, as he was waived on August 29, 2023, during roster cutdowns, before being re-signed to the team’s practice squad. He remained with the organization and was promoted to the active roster on November 18, 2023, giving him a runway to contribute down the stretch of his rookie season.
As a rookie with the Titans, McLendon appeared in seven games and made two starts during the 2023 season, recording tackles and contributing on the defensive line. His limited but active role showed he could compete at the NFL level, even after a non-traditional draft path that included three different college stops. The experience gave him a foundation of practice habits and meeting-room preparation that he carried into the following year.
Tennessee Titans Breakthrough (2023–2024)
McLendon’s breakthrough into regular NFL duty came late in the 2023 season, when he was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster in mid-November. With the Titans, he rotated in as a defensive end, using his length and athleticism to set edges and pressure opposing quarterbacks. His two starts that season gave the Titans a glimpse of his developmental upside and helped him build trust with the coaching staff.
His second season with the Titans was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024. Across his Titans tenure through the 2024 season, McLendon had registered eight total tackles and one fumble recovery, according to his career NFL statistics. The fumble recovery highlighted the ball-tracking instincts that have always been part of his game, while his time on injured reserve underscored the physical demands of life on a professional defensive line.
Louisville Kings Era (2026)
On March 10, 2026, McLendon signed with the Louisville Kings of the United Football League (UFL), the spring professional football league that operates alongside the NFL calendar. The move gave him a chance to continue his professional career in a high-level setting after his time with the Titans. However, his stint with the Kings was brief, as he was released on March 19, 2026, ending that chapter of his career after just over a week with the organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of McLendon’s young career came when he was promoted to the Tennessee Titans’ active roster on November 18, 2023, an event that validated his journey from undrafted free agent to contributing NFL defender. His two starts as a rookie stood as a personal milestone, as did his recovery of an opposing fumble, a stat that highlighted his awareness and pursuit to the football. The 2023 season, in which he appeared in seven games, served as the foundation for everything that followed in his professional journey.
TK McLendon Jr. Career Statistics
Through the 2024 NFL season, McLendon had recorded eight total tackles and one fumble recovery in his time with the Tennessee Titans, reflecting a role that emphasized rotational defensive line work and special teams contributions. His limited but consistent counting stats underscored the developmental path he has followed since entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
NFL Highlights
McLendon’s NFL highlights center on his rookie season with the Titans, when he appeared in seven games and made two starts, a notable accomplishment for an undrafted player who had been waived earlier that summer. His recovery of a fumble stands as a memorable statistical entry in his career log. Across the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Tennessee, he continued to build his professional resume before moving on to a brief UFL opportunity with the Louisville Kings in 2026.
TK McLendon Jr. Family
Family Background and Personal Life
McLendon hails from Soperton, Georgia, a small community that shaped his upbringing and his early athletic development. The tight-knit character of his hometown is reflected in his steady progression through the football ranks, a journey that depended on family and community support during the many transitions between schools and programs. Beyond this rooted connection to Soperton, details of his broader family life have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, McLendon entered the year as a former Tennessee Titans defensive end looking to re-establish himself at the professional level. His previous NFL experience, including seven games and two starts as a 2023 rookie, positioned him as a candidate for opportunities in either the NFL or a developmental spring league. The 2025 calendar represented a critical stretch for a young defender seeking to build on the foundation of his first two professional seasons.
Earlier in his career, McLendon had been placed on injured reserve by the Titans on August 27, 2024, a development that made full health and availability a central theme for the 2025 period. With his combination of size, length, and SEC and FCS-level college experience, he remained a profile worth tracking as teams evaluated defensive line depth. His subsequent signing with the Louisville Kings of the UFL in March 2026 demonstrated his continued drive to keep playing, a sign of the persistence that has defined his career since Treutlen County High School.