Gators defensive end Antonneous Clayton, No. 77, posing with a group of teammates at practice last week. (Photo: Alex de la Osa/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Clayton to Chase His 'One Year to Shine' Elsewhere
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Antonneous Clayton was Florida's marquee "potential player" the past three seasons. Every time the Gators took the field for spring and fall camp, fans cued up a stream of questions and comments about Clayton's role.
Clayton looked the part. Tall, muscular, athletic. He also has an engaging personality, one of the more interesting and best communicators on the team from a media standpoint.
Florida's top recruit in the 2016 signing class, Clayton announced his plans to transfer on Monday.
"Please understand this decision is harder than it sounds but please understand I will be forever grateful for Gator Nation for their support and I wish you all the best,'' Clayton posted on Twitter.
I'm never surprised when a player who doesn't start early in his career opts to transfer, and I'm definitely not dazed when a player of Clayton's stature coming out of high school transfers when playing time escapes his grasp. The timing was strange considering it's in the middle of spring practice. That's the way the system works, for better or worse.
Still, Clayton's announcement caught me a bit off-guard only because six days earlier, he was very convincing as he spoke about being committed to proving himself with the Gators in a 10-minute conversation with a trio of reporters.
"I have two years left,'' he said. "The thing about it, there's a lot of NFL guys who only did one year in college and went first round, second round, third round or even got a shot. Patience is key."
Clayton redshirted a season ago when defensive coordinator Todd Grantham arrived and moved him to the hybrid defensive end/linebacker position Florida terms the "Buck" spot. He watched fellow junior Jachai Polite take the position and have a breakout season.
Clayton appeared on the verge of getting his shot in 2019 until graduate transfer Jonathan Greenard arrived from Louisville and began taking most of the first-team reps in spring camp. Following Tuesday's practice last week, Clayton acknowledged Greenard's presence and said the two veterans were trying to lead the way this spring.
The Gators are also testing others at the position, including redshirt freshmen David Reese and Andrew Chatfield Jr., and true freshmen Mohamoud Diabate and Jesiah Pierre. Jeremiah Moon, out this spring due to a foot injury, factors prominently at the position this fall.
Clayton's path to a starting role was full of hurdles. However, he spoke of a renewed outlook after becoming a father last summer of an 8-month-old boy (Antonneous Jr.) and with his girlfriend and him on track to graduate this year. He said it was important to remain at UF to be close to them and finish what he started.
"I'm a totally different person. I can't leave my family," Clayton said. "I think of this year as a life-changing decision year. A lot of people expected me to transfer. A lot of people were like, 'What are you going to do? What are you going to do?' I want to know for sure this is it, this is where I need to be, where I need to finish out.
"Whatever happens this year, at the end of the day, I just know I have options. I'm a businessman, too, at the end of the day, so whatever happens happens. I'm just trusting the process and trusting in the coaches and trusting in everything they're trying to tell me and not shying away from it."
In Clayton's message on Twitter, he said that after discussing the situation more in detail over the weekend with his family, he made the decision to transfer for a second chance at the college stardom so many predicted for him coming out of high school.
Coincidentally, new Gators defensive line coach David Turner was one of those who pursued Clayton when he starred at Dooly County (Ga.) High. Turner was on Dan Mullen's staff at Mississippi State at the time.
The two reconnected this spring when Turner rejoined Mullen at UF. Turner also rediscovered Clayton, whom he surprised one day by calling him "Big Eye," a family nickname Clayton goes by back home but one that few at Florida knew about.
"I've already got a great relationship with Coach Turner,'' Clayton said last week. "He just came right in. It all worked out because he's here."
And then Clayton was gone.
Wherever he lands, the mission will be the same as the one he spoke about a week ago. Time is running out.
"I've got to do something,'' he said. "I've got to. That's my mindset. I keep telling myself I just need one year, one year to shine."
Clayton looked the part. Tall, muscular, athletic. He also has an engaging personality, one of the more interesting and best communicators on the team from a media standpoint.
Florida's top recruit in the 2016 signing class, Clayton announced his plans to transfer on Monday.
"Please understand this decision is harder than it sounds but please understand I will be forever grateful for Gator Nation for their support and I wish you all the best,'' Clayton posted on Twitter.
I'm never surprised when a player who doesn't start early in his career opts to transfer, and I'm definitely not dazed when a player of Clayton's stature coming out of high school transfers when playing time escapes his grasp. The timing was strange considering it's in the middle of spring practice. That's the way the system works, for better or worse.
Still, Clayton's announcement caught me a bit off-guard only because six days earlier, he was very convincing as he spoke about being committed to proving himself with the Gators in a 10-minute conversation with a trio of reporters.
"I have two years left,'' he said. "The thing about it, there's a lot of NFL guys who only did one year in college and went first round, second round, third round or even got a shot. Patience is key."
Clayton redshirted a season ago when defensive coordinator Todd Grantham arrived and moved him to the hybrid defensive end/linebacker position Florida terms the "Buck" spot. He watched fellow junior Jachai Polite take the position and have a breakout season.
Clayton appeared on the verge of getting his shot in 2019 until graduate transfer Jonathan Greenard arrived from Louisville and began taking most of the first-team reps in spring camp. Following Tuesday's practice last week, Clayton acknowledged Greenard's presence and said the two veterans were trying to lead the way this spring.
The Gators are also testing others at the position, including redshirt freshmen David Reese and Andrew Chatfield Jr., and true freshmen Mohamoud Diabate and Jesiah Pierre. Jeremiah Moon, out this spring due to a foot injury, factors prominently at the position this fall.
Just need the opportunity everything else cake walk🍰👟 pic.twitter.com/zBVQbBNXHE
— Antonneous Clayton Sr. (@Getsacks77) November 18, 2018
Clayton's path to a starting role was full of hurdles. However, he spoke of a renewed outlook after becoming a father last summer of an 8-month-old boy (Antonneous Jr.) and with his girlfriend and him on track to graduate this year. He said it was important to remain at UF to be close to them and finish what he started.
"I'm a totally different person. I can't leave my family," Clayton said. "I think of this year as a life-changing decision year. A lot of people expected me to transfer. A lot of people were like, 'What are you going to do? What are you going to do?' I want to know for sure this is it, this is where I need to be, where I need to finish out.
"Whatever happens this year, at the end of the day, I just know I have options. I'm a businessman, too, at the end of the day, so whatever happens happens. I'm just trusting the process and trusting in the coaches and trusting in everything they're trying to tell me and not shying away from it."
In Clayton's message on Twitter, he said that after discussing the situation more in detail over the weekend with his family, he made the decision to transfer for a second chance at the college stardom so many predicted for him coming out of high school.
Coincidentally, new Gators defensive line coach David Turner was one of those who pursued Clayton when he starred at Dooly County (Ga.) High. Turner was on Dan Mullen's staff at Mississippi State at the time.
The two reconnected this spring when Turner rejoined Mullen at UF. Turner also rediscovered Clayton, whom he surprised one day by calling him "Big Eye," a family nickname Clayton goes by back home but one that few at Florida knew about.
"I've already got a great relationship with Coach Turner,'' Clayton said last week. "He just came right in. It all worked out because he's here."
And then Clayton was gone.
Wherever he lands, the mission will be the same as the one he spoke about a week ago. Time is running out.
"I've got to do something,'' he said. "I've got to. That's my mindset. I keep telling myself I just need one year, one year to shine."
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