2005 General Roster
Roster
Marcus Clayton
- Position:
- Cornerback
- Height:
- 5-7
- Weight:
- 184
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Tallahassee, FL
- High School:
- Amos P. Godby HS
At SU:
Three letters … Moved to cornerback from wide receiver prior to 2004 Spring practice after playing receiver in 2003 … One of three true freshmen to play in 2003 … Ranks 10th on the SU career record list with 9.7 yards per punt return …Junior Year (2005): Played in 10 games … At Florida State, had one tackle … At Connecticut, posted a solo tackle … Against Cincinnati, recorded a career-high 10 tackles, including eight solo, playing for the injured Tanard Jackson …
Sophomore Year (2004): Played in all 12 games and started against Rutgers … At Buffalo and against Florida State, tallied two solo tackles … At Virginia, Temple and Boston College, posted one tackle … Against Rutgers, had eight tackles, including seven solo, and had one pass breakup in his first career start… Ranked second on the team with eight special teams tackles …
Freshman Year (2003): The only true freshman to participate in all 12 games … One of 39 players to see action every game of the season … Ranked 10th on the SU single-season punts returned and punt return yardage lists with 27 returns for 273 yards … Recorded the most punt return yards by an SU true freshman … Also played on punt protection special teams unit … Returned two punts for 10 yards, including one for nine yards, against North Carolina … Returned one punt for 18 yards versus Louisville … Against Central Florida, returned one kickoff 11 yards and three punts for 29 yards, including one for 12 yards … Returned a career-high four punts for 21 yards, including one for nine yards, and posted his first career tackle against Toledo … Against Virginia Tech, returned one kickoff a career-long 24 yards and two punts for 22 yards, including one for 18 yards … Rushed one time for 14 yards and returned one punt for nine yards against Boston College … Against Pittsburgh, returned five punts for 51 yards, including one for 17 yards … Rushed one time for 10 yards and returned one punt for one yard against Temple … Returned one kickoff 17 yards and two punts for 25 yards, including one for 13 yards, against Miami … Scored his first career touchdown on a career-long 56-yard punt return against West Virginia … Also returned two other punts for 15 yards and had two solo tackles on special teams against the Mountaineers … Versus Rutgers, returned one kickoff seven yards and had two solo tackles on special teams … Returned two punts for 16 yards, including one for 13 yards, against Notre Dame …
High School: Rated as the No. 46 cornerback and the No. 70 prospect in Florida by Rivals.com … Selected for California-Florida All-Star Game … Nominated for the Army High School All-Star Game … 4A All-State Second Team selection at defensive back after registering 58 tackles, intercepting seven passes, including one for a touchdown, and breaking up 12 passes … Blocked five punts and a field goal, returning two for touchdowns … Caught two passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns in his senior season … All-Big Bend Second Team and second-team all-state as a junior …Three-year starter … Career statistics: 11 interceptions, 32 pass breakups, 160 tackles, six blocked kicks … Returned 25 kickoffs for 775 yards and five touchdowns in his career … Also ran track … Recruited by former assistant coach Dennis Goldman …
Personal: Marcus K. Clayton … Born November 9, 1984 … Son of William Evers … Majoring in communications and rhetorical studies.
Clayton's Career Statistics
Rushing
| Year | Games | Carries | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Yds/Game | Points | Long |
| 2003 | 12 | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 0 | 1.6 | 0 | 14 |
| Totals | 12 | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 0 | 1.6 | 0 | 14 |
Punt Returns
| Year | Punt Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Long |
| 2003 | 27 | 273 | 10.1 | 1 | 56 |
| 2004 | 14 | 49 | 3.5 | 0 | 26 |
| Totals | 41 | 322 | 7.9 | 1 | 56 |
Kick Returns
| Year | KO Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Long |
| 2003 | 59 | 14.8 | 0.0 | 0 | 24 |
| 2004 | 1 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 0 | 27 |
| Totals | 60 | 41.8 | 27.0 | 0 | 27 |
Defense
| Year | Tackles | Assists | Tot. | TFL | Sacks | Int. | FF | Fumble Rec. |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0-0 yds. |
| Totals | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.0-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0-0 |
Clayton's Career Bests
| Tackles | Solo | 7 vs. Rutgers, 2004 |
| Assists | 1 vs. Toledo, 2003; Virginia, Rutgers, 2004 | |
| Total | 8 vs. Rutgers, 2004 | |
| Pass Breakups | 1 vs. Rutgers, 2004 | |
| Rushing | Yards | 14 vs. Boston College, 2003 |
| Carries | 2 vs. Miami, 2003 | |
| Touchdowns | 0 | |
| Long | 14 vs. Boston College, 2003 | |
| Punt Returns | Returns | 4 vs. Toledo, 2003; Pittsburgh, 2004 |
| Yards | 71 vs. West Virginia, 2003 | |
| Long | 56 (TD) vs. West Virginia, 2003 | |
| Kick Returns | Returns | 1, five times. Most Recent vs. West Virginia, 2004 |
| Yards | 51 vs. Pittsburgh, 2003 | |
| Long | 27 vs. Virginia, 2004 |
