Mark Clayton (American football, born 1982)

Mark Jermaine Clayton (born July 2, 1982) is a former American football wide receiver who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL). Clayton played college football for Oklahoma from 2001 to 2004. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft and also played for the St. Louis Rams.

This article is about the former Ravens and Rams wide receiver. For the Dolphins and Packers wide receiver, see Mark Clayton (American football, born 1961).

Mark Clayton
refer to caption
Clayton in 2009
No. 89
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1982-07-02) July 2, 1982
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Arlington (TX) Sam Houston
College:Oklahoma (2000–2004)
NFL Draft:2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:260
Receiving yards:3,448
Receiving touchdowns:14
Rushing yards:118
Rushing touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Education

Mark Clayton obtained his communications degree in 2010 through the university's degree completion program.[1]

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 Classic. 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).[2] 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.[3] Several of Clayton's "highlight reel" catches during this season demonstrated his ability to gain large numbers 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.[2]

Professional career

Pre-draft
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench pressWonderlic
5 ft 10+3⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		 193 lb
(88 kg)		 30+5⁄8 in
(0.78 m)		 9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		4.41 s1.53 s2.64 s4.07 s6.95 s36+1⁄2 in
(0.93 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		x reps21
All values from NFL Combine[4]

Baltimore Ravens

Clayton was the 22nd overall selection in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.[5][6] 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.

2006

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

2007

In 2007, Clayton had 48 receptions for 531 yards, down from his impressive 2006 season. He dealt with various injuries throughout the 2007 season, but was active for most of it.

2008

In 2008, Clayton had some bright spots during the year. He had 4 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns, 5 catches for 164 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals, and 4 catches for 128 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Ravens won each game. Clayton had receptions of 70, 48, and 53 yards.

In Week 13, at the division rival Cincinnati Bengals, Clayton had what was arguably the best game of his career. He had five receptions for 164 yards, which included a 70-yard receiving touchdown, the second longest touchdown of his career. He also had one pass attempt on a trick end-around play, which he completed for a 32-yard touchdown pass to fellow wide receiver Derrick Mason, the only touchdown pass of his career. Clayton helped the Ravens rout the Bengals 34–3.

Clayton finished the season with 695 yards on 41 receptions, 3 receiving TDs, 1 rushing TD, and 1 passing TD.

2009

Mark Clayton had his least productive year as a full-time, healthy starter in 2009, as QB Joe Flacco targeted WR Mason, TE Todd Heap, and RB Ray Rice more than Clayton. In fact, Rice led the team in receptions for much of the year. Clayton finished the season with 34 receptions for 480 yards, and 2 scores.

2010

On September 6, 2010, Mark Clayton was traded to the St. Louis Rams along with a 7th round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft in exchange for a 6th round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. In his first game as a Ram and having only been with the club less than a week Clayton caught 10 passes for 119 yards (two touchdowns) to lead the team in both categories. In Week 5, Clayton was placed on injury reserve with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, which ended his season. Before the injury, he had emerged as a valued veteran presence on the team, and rookie Sam Bradford's top receiving target. He was re-signed by the Rams on August 31, 2011.

2011

In the 2011 season, Clayton played in two games, starting one, and caught three passes for 26 yards.

Retirement

In May 2013, Clayton announced his retirement from football. He finished his career with 260 receptions for 3,448 yards and 14 touchdowns.[7]

NFL career statistics
Year Team GP Receiving Rushing Passing
RecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDCmpAttYdsTD
2005BAL 144447110.74728334.11110100
2006BAL 166793914.08757-30-4.3300100
2007BAL 164853111.1520000.0000100
2008BAL 164169517.070368113.542111321
2009BAL 143448014.15424287.01201100
2010STL 52330611.9392166.0600000
2011STL 23268.7120000.0000000
Career832603,44813.38714261184.542225321

Entrepreneur

Mark Clayton is the founder of Livv Headphones. He also founded a Christian based clothing line called MyChristianT (MCT).[8]

References
  1. Corley, James (May 15, 2010). "Clayton gets his degree". The Oklahoman. p. 4C. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  2. "Oklahoma Sooners Football Individual Offensive Records" (PDF). SoonerSports.com. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  3. "All-American: Mark Clayton". SoonerSports.com. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  4. USA Today draft profiles
  5. "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. "OU in the Draft". SoonerSports.com. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  7. Wilson, Aaron. "Former Ravens first-rounder Mark retiring". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  8. McIlwain, Randy (May 3, 2011). "Rams Player Locked Out But Not Locked Down". Retrieved January 12, 2012.
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