Thomas Clayton (American football)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Clayton is an American football
running back
who is currently signed to the Cleveland Browns
. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He last played college football
at Kansas State
.
He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
, New England Patriots
and Seattle Seahawks
.
, where he was a SuperPrep All-American running back. He was named to the USA Today
All-USA team and was rated the eighth best running back nationally by Rivals.com
and participated in U.S. Army All-American Bowl
As a senior, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards.
as a true freshman in 2002, rushing for 45 yards on 13 attempts. He then transferred to Kansas State University
, where he sat out the 2003 season under NCAA transfer rules. In 2004, Clayton appeared in 10 games as a reserve, finishing with 14 carries for 71 yards. As a junior in 2005, Clayton started eight games and led the team in rushing with 637 yards, while also scoring four touchdowns. In 2006, Clayton started four games and played in five total, rushing for 338 yards, the third highest total on the team.
in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
where he went on the lead the NFL in rushing during the 2007 Pre-season. He duplicated his Pre-season success in 2008, where he led all rushers again. In August 2009 Clayton suffered an ACL
injury, and was placed on injured reserve
, where he spent the entire season.
on June 11, 2010. He was waived on August 6, 2010, but re-signed on August 11, 2010. He was waived during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
' practice squad on September 14, 2010.
.
, running six times for 17 yards. He was released on August 3, 2011.
on August 3 and then released prior to the start of the season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently signed to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He last played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
.
He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.
Early years
Clayton was born in Germany on April 26, 1984. Clayton grew up in the Washington DC metropolitan area where he attended Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, where he was a SuperPrep All-American running back. He was named to the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
All-USA team and was rated the eighth best running back nationally by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
and participated in U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
As a senior, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards.
College carer
Clayton began his college football career at Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
as a true freshman in 2002, rushing for 45 yards on 13 attempts. He then transferred to Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
, where he sat out the 2003 season under NCAA transfer rules. In 2004, Clayton appeared in 10 games as a reserve, finishing with 14 carries for 71 yards. As a junior in 2005, Clayton started eight games and led the team in rushing with 637 yards, while also scoring four touchdowns. In 2006, Clayton started four games and played in five total, rushing for 338 yards, the third highest total on the team.
San Francisco 49ers
Clayton was drafted by the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
where he went on the lead the NFL in rushing during the 2007 Pre-season. He duplicated his Pre-season success in 2008, where he led all rushers again. In August 2009 Clayton suffered an ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury, and was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
, where he spent the entire season.
First stint with the Patriots
Clayton signed with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on June 11, 2010. He was waived on August 6, 2010, but re-signed on August 11, 2010. He was waived during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
First stint with the Browns
Clayton was signed to the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' practice squad on September 14, 2010.
Second stint with the Patriots
The Patriots signed Clayton off the Browns' practice squad on September 30, 2010. He was waived on October 23, 2010.Second stint with the Browns
Clayton was claimed off waivers by the Browns on October 25, 2010. He was waived on December 1, 2010. He was active for two games, registering 0 yards on one carry in a Week 10 loss to the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Third stint with the Patriots
The Patriots claimed Clayton off waivers on December 2, 2010. He played in one game for the Patriots, the Week 17 season finale against the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, running six times for 17 yards. He was released on August 3, 2011.
Seattle Seahawks
Clayton was claimed off waivers by the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
on August 3 and then released prior to the start of the season.