Mark J. Clayton

Infobox NFLactive


name=Mark Clayton
currentteam=Baltimore Ravens
currentnumber=89
currentposition=Wide receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|7|2
birthplace=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=195
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Baltimore Ravens
college=Oklahoma
draftyear=2005
draftround=1
draftpick=22
pastteams=
* Baltimore Ravens (2005-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=159
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=1,941
statlabel3=Receiving TDs
statvalue3=7
nfl=CLA796702

Mark Jermaine Clayton (born July 2, 1982 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma [cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/players/markclayton/profile?id=CLA796702 | title=Prospect Profiles | work=NFL.com | publisher=National Football League|accessdate=2007-08-22] ) is an American football wide receiver. Clayton played for the University of Oklahoma Sooners from 2001 to 2004, and currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.

College career

After redshirting in Oklahoma's 2000 national championship season, Clayton's college career began in 2001, when he started 8 of Oklahoma's 13 games, and made 46 catches for 524 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Sooners won the Cotton Bowl. In 2002, he made only one start, but managed 26 receptions for 416 yards, including 5 touchdowns, which tied for the team lead among receivers. In that year, the Sooners won the Big 12 championship as well as the Rose Bowl, a first for any Big 12 team.

His profile exploded in 2003, as he garnered All-American and All-Big 12 honors after a junior season in which he took aim on the school record book. His 83 receptions, 1,425 yards, and 15 touchdowns all smashed previous marks (66, 1,034, and 7, respectively). cite web| title =Oklahoma Sooners Football Individual Offensive Records| work =SoonerSports.com| publisher=University of Oklahoma Athletic Department| year =2007| url =http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/okla/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06-mg-indiv-records.pdf| format =PDF| accessdate =2007-08-22] The quarterback who threw the passes, Jason White, won the Heisman Trophy, and the Sooners advanced to the Sugar Bowl before losing to national champion LSU. Clayton was a Biletnikoff Award finalist.cite web| title =All-American: Mark Clayton| work =SoonerSports.com| publisher=University of Oklahoma Athletic Department| url =http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-mark-clayton-2003-04.html| accessdate =2007-08-22] Several of Clayton's "highlight reel" catches during this season demonstrated his ability to gain large amounts of yards after the catch (YAC).

Clayton's 2004 senior year again netted All-America and All-Big 12 recognition, though his 66 receptions, 876 yards, and 8 touchdowns were not quite as eye-popping as the previous season. The Sooners again won the Big 12 championship and played for the national title against USC, though they lost in the Orange Bowl. Clayton set the record for career receiving yards with 3,241.

Professional career

Clayton was the 22nd overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. [cite web| title =OU in the Draft| work =SoonerSports.com| publisher=University of Oklahoma Athletic Department| url =http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-all-time-in-nfl-draft.html| accessdate =2007-08-22] He started his rookie season slowly due to various injuries but picked up speed during the latter part of the season, a major part of his rehabilitation process was guided by his best friend Christopher Pannozzo. He finished the year with 44 receptions for 471 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 8 rushes for 33 yards and a touchdown.

In his second year, his stats improved significantly, with 67 receptions for 939 yards and 5 touchdowns.

References

External links

* [http://catchclayton89.com CatchClayton89.com Official website]
* [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=1076 Official bio at BaltimoreRavens.com]
* [http://yardbarker.com/users/MarkClayton Clayton's Yardbarker blog]