Jon Clanton Season 2002

• Nebraska Position Record (DL) for 40-Yard Dash Points (723)
• Nebraska Position Record (DL) for Pro-Agility Run (3.97) and Points (1,018)
• Nebraska Position Record (DL) for Performance Index (2,788)
• School Record for Most Points Scored on Any Test With 1,018 in the Pro-Agility Run

Senior defensive lineman Jon Clanton showed his versatility this season by playing both positions on the interior defensive line. Clanton started the first five games at defensive tackle, then shifted to nose tackle where he shared time with Ryon Bingham. Clanton earned the start at defensive tackle in the 2002 Independence Bowl, his final game as a Husker.

The agile Clanton finished the season with seven starts and made 45 total tackles, including five tackles for loss. He is to start the bowl game at defensive tackle, but could also see action at nose tackle. Clanton played the bowl game as a graduate after earning his degree in special education last semester.

2002: A fifth-year senior, Clanton finished the season with 45 tackles, including 15 solo stops. His total was the third-most among NU defensive linemen, trailing Bingham and junior defensive tackle Patrick Kabongo. Clanton shifted to nose tackle after the first five games and played his best football of the season after the move. He had 13 tackles in the first six games, but responded to the position switch with 29 tackles in NU's final seven regular-season contests. He had five or more tackles three times this season, including a career-high eight stops, and a tackle for loss in his final game at Memorial Stadium against Colorado, when he started at defensive tackle. Clanton had a stretch of three straight games with a tackle for loss that included an eight-yard sack against Texas. He also forced a pair of fumbles this season (Troy State, Kansas) and had nine quarterback hurries.

2001: Clanton finished the regular season with 24 tackles, including 2.5 sacks for 30 yards lost and eight quarterback hurries. He also posted six tackles for 37 yards lost in his first season as a starter. He made the first career start against Rice after Jason Lohr suffered a season-ending knee injury against Notre Dame on Sept. 8. Clanton returned his first fumble recovery 20 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter against Troy State. He also recorded two tackles, including a sack for a 15-yard loss, and two quarterback hurries, as the Huskers held Troy State to minus-25 yards rushing in a 42-14 win. Against No. 17 Notre Dame, Clanton recorded four tackles, including one for a three-yard loss. In the first start of his career, Clanton posted three tackles, as NU rolled to a 48-3 victory over Rice. For the second time in 2001, Clanton recorded two quarterback hurries and notched three tackles in a 41-31 win over Texas Tech. Clanton recorded a career-best game to help the Huskers topple then-BCS No. 1 Oklahoma. He had five tackles, two solos, two tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks for 15 yards, and two quarterback hurries. All of the marks vs. the Sooners were career bests. Clanton recorded one quarterback hurry and one sack for a three-yard loss for his only tackle in the win over Kansas State. He notched two tackles at Colorado, including one for a one-yard loss. In the 2002 Rose Bowl vs. Miami, Clanton started and had one solo tackle.

2000: As a sophomore, Clanton played in 10-of-11 games at nose tackle (all except Missouri when he was out of town attending a family funeral) and recorded five tackles (one solo) and four quarterback hurries (two vs. Texas Tech and one vs. Kansas and Kansas State), playing behind Lohr. Clanton had two tackles each at Notre Dame and vs. Baylor and one at Oklahoma. Clanton recorded one tackle, a five-yard sack, on Northwestern quarterback Zak Kustok in the 2000 Alamo Bowl.

1999: Clanton played in seven games in 1999 (Iowa, Cal, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Texas A&M and Kansas State), and when Jeremy Slechta was knocked out of the four-man defensive line rotation with a knee injury, Clanton's playing time increased. The redshirt freshman had one tackle, a solo assist against Iowa State, in his seven contests. He played in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl vs. Tennessee, but did not have any tackles.

1998: A scholarship athlete, Clanton redshirted his first year at NU.

At Centennial HS: Clanton was a first-team all-state nose guard and the West Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year for Coach Richard Taylor at Centennial High School in Peoria, Ariz. Clanton recorded 104 tackles (67 solo), 9.5 sacks, three blocked punts, two blocked extra points, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a senior. He also spent time at fullback, rushing for 350 yards and two touchdowns. An honorable-mention all-state player on defense as a junior, he also lettered four years in track at Centennial High School. Clanton visited Washington, Oregon and Illinois before selecting Nebraska.

Personal: The son of Jody Clanton and Denise Ellert, Jon has three older brothers and one older sister. He was born on Nov. 16, 1979, and majors in special education and is on track to earn his degree in December.