Michael Clayton (American football) facts for kids
Clayton signing autographs in 2006
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | October 13, 1982 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Baton Rouge (LA) Christian Life | ||||||
| College: | LSU | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Michael Rashard Clayton (born October 13, 1982) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Michael played college football for the LSU Tigers. He was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 15th overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He later won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants.
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Growing Up and High School Football
Michael Clayton grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He went to Christian Life Academy for high school. During his senior year, he was one of the most wanted young football players in the country.
He played in the very first U.S. Army All-American Bowl game on December 30, 2000. This game features the best high school football players in the nation. Michael also played basketball at Christian Life Academy. In 2008, he was the first person to be added to the Christian Life Academy Hall of Fame.
College Football Career at LSU
Michael Clayton played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU). He was a key part of the LSU Tigers team that won the NCAA championship in 2003.
During his three years at LSU, Michael caught 182 passes. He gained 2,582 yards and scored 21 touchdowns for the Tigers. He set a record for the most career touchdown catches at LSU with 21. This record was later broken by another player, Dwayne Bowe. Michael finished second in LSU history for total catches. He is also the only player in LSU history to have at least 700 receiving yards in three years in a row.
Michael is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, which he joined in 2003.
Playing in the NFL
Before joining the NFL, Michael Clayton showed off his skills at the NFL Combine. This is where college players are tested by professional teams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Years
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Michael Clayton as their 15th choice in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. His first year, 2004, was very good. He led all new players in the NFL with 80 catches for 1,193 yards. He also scored 7 touchdowns for his team.
However, his second year in 2005 was not as strong. He had knee surgery and struggled with small mistakes. He ended the season with fewer catches and no touchdowns. He also missed some games due to an injury.
In 2006, Michael started to play better again. He caught a game-winning touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals. But his season ended early when he was placed on the injured list.
The 2007 season was also tough for Michael. However, he played much better towards the end of the season. He caught many passes in the last few games.
In 2008, Michael played in his first playoff game against the New York Giants. After the 2008 season, he signed a new five-year deal with the Buccaneers. But the Buccaneers later released him on September 4, 2010.
United Football League
After leaving the Buccaneers, Michael joined the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League in October 2010.
New York Giants and a Super Bowl Win
On November 23, 2010, Michael Clayton signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants. He joined the team because some of their other receivers were injured. This move also brought him back together with Giants quarterback Eli Manning. They had shared a room during the NFL combine in 2004.
The Giants released Michael in September 2011, but then re-signed him later that month. In the 2011–2012 season, Michael and the Giants played against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Giants won 21–17, and Michael earned his first Super Bowl championship ring! After that season, he became a free agent.
Michael Clayton's Career Stats
During his NFL career, Michael Clayton played in 95 regular season games. He caught 223 passes for a total of 2,955 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. His best year was his rookie season in 2004, where he had 80 catches and 1,193 yards.
Life Outside of Football
Michael Clayton is involved in charity work through his "Michael Clayton Generation Next Foundation." This group helps local charities in Tampa Bay and Baton Rouge. They mainly support places like the Ronald McDonald House and the Tampa Bay Pediatric Cancer Center. Michael also holds a yearly celebrity basketball game to raise money for his foundation.
He has also worked as a football expert for Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
Michael is currently attending Florida College in Temple Terrace, Florida, where he is working on finishing his college degree.
His cousin, Noah Cain, also played college football at Penn State and LSU. Noah later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a player who was not drafted.
