Claytor apparently feels that continuing for another year in Johnson's scheme will not improve upon his NFL draft prospects. This despite being projected by the NFL advisory board as maybe a potential 5th to 7th round selection. In other words, Claytor prefers to risk not being drafted at all rather than playing for Johnson one more season.
An excerpt from the article:
"As a large lineman, you get used to being big, used to dominating with your size," Claytor said. "I cut that part of my skill set out. My skill set was pass blocking and being bigger than people. I had to learn how to run block."
(...)
In the summer of 2008, some nine or 10 months after Johnson was hired, it was almost startling to see Claytor when summer practice began. Had you not anticipated Tech's linemen returning lighter, you might have thought he'd been sick.
"I lost like 45 pounds when that transition happened," said Claytor, whom I seem to recall saying he was down to 278 that summer. "I think it shows what kind of player I am. I was willing to stay, sacrifice, and work harder than I ever worked in my life."
An interesting sacrifice by a player who some Tech fans were quick to throw under the bus as a "troublemaker" the second his draft intentions were made known. We wish good luck to Nick Claytor in the pros. One can only hope that Johnson's offense hasn't irrevocably claimed the NFL dreams of another unwitting victim.
If this isn't a smoking gun, what is??
ReplyDeletePaul Johnson needs to go back and coach his Option crap at a Ga Southern or Navy, where the player do not go to school with huge NFL dreams. But the ACC is a big time conference with big time players. As much as Tech fans love to act like academics play a major role in most kids commitment, most are looking for a path to the NFL.
This is a VERY damning comment which Paul Johnson and Tech fans can only hope recruits don't read too much into.
I think it's safe to say that anyone who uses the word 'anathema' is not a UGA grad.
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