Age: 22
2nd
season in pro football & with Stallions
College: Auburn
Height: 5’11” Weight: 193
Prelude:
Clanton
displayed talent in Auburn’s defensive backfield but also encountered
disciplinary problems. He was chosen by the Stallions in the 1984 USFL
territorial draft and had an outstanding rookie year, impressing at free safety
with his speed and intercepting 10 passes that he returned for a league-leading
249 yards and three touchdowns.
1985 Season Summary
Appeared in all
18 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 16 [1]
Int. return
yards – 275 [1]
Int. TDs – 1 [1,
tied with many others]
Sacks – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 2
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 2 G
Interceptions
– 0
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
USFL
Defensive Player of the Year: League, College & Pro Football Newsweekly
1st
team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly
Stallions
went 13-5 to finish first in the USFL Eastern Conference. Won USFL Quarterfinal
playoff over Houston Gamblers (22-20). Lost USFL Semifinal playoff to Baltimore
Stars (28-14).
Aftermath:
Following the
demise of the USFL, Clanton joined the Green Bay Packers, who had chosen him in
the second round of the 1984 NFL supplemental draft, but due to a failure to
come to terms on a contract, it was late in the ’85 season and he appeared in
just three games. While there were hopes that he would provide depth in the
defensive backfield, Clanton was waived during the 1986 preseason and failed to
catch on elsewhere. Overall, he intercepted 26 passes that he returned for 524
yards and four touchdowns over the course of two USFL seasons, but that didn't translate into success in the NFL.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
