Marcus McClinton has joined the inaugural roster for the United Football League team in Pikeville, Kentucky. Marcus was a top player for the University of Kentucky and will add experience in the defensive backfield to the first year franchise in the UFL. McClinton joins former Cat’s David Jones, John Logan, and former Eastern Kentucky University and Perry Central alum Allen Holland in Pikeville. Here is the bio for Marcus from UKAthletics.com:
[QUOTE]
Has been the team’s starting free safety, when available, over the last three seasons … Looks to bounce back after injuries troubled him through much of the 2007 season … Has an excellent instinct for being around the ball … Has appeared in 34 games, starting 25 … Has made 131 tackles for his career … Enjoys singing as a hobby and has made his own music videos.
[B]Statistics[/B]
[URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2008-2009/plyr_2.html”][COLOR=#0061aa]2008-09 Game-by-Game[/COLOR][/URL]
[B]2007 (Junior):[/B] Played in eight games, missing five contests because of three separate injuries … Had 32 tackles for the year, including a season high of seven in the win over Louisville … Notched an interception against Arkansas, an acrobatic leaping grab — taking the ball away from the receiver — which was one of ESPN’s Top-10 “Plays of the Day.”
[B]2006 (Sophomore):[/B] Led team in interceptions with four … Forced five fumbles during the season, tying for the national lead for most fumbles caused … Responsible for three turnovers vs. Central Michigan, tallying an interception, fumble recovery, and causing a fumble that was recovered by the Wildcats … Had 65 tackles on the season with career-best nine at Louisville and in the Music City Bowl vs. Clemson … Played well in the bowl game with a caused fumble and pass breakup in addition to his nine stops … Second on the team in pass breakups with six.
[B]2005 (Sophomore):[/B] Started the first two games at free safety before enduring a season-ending injury vs. Idaho State … Made seven tackles … Received a medical hardship and retained the year of eligibility.
[B]2004 (Freshman):[/B] Played in all 11 games … Started the last three at free safety after Muhammad Abdullah moved to strong safety … Made 27 tackles for the season, featuring two for loss … 21 of his tackles came in his three starting assignments, including a season-high of eight against Vanderbilt and Tennessee … Got an interception against South Carolina … Tied for the team lead in fumbles caused with two.
[B]High School:[/B] Outstanding safety prospect with good size and athleticism … First-team all-state as a senior by Louisville [I]Courier-Journal[/I], second-team all-state by The Associated Press … Named to the [I]Lexington Herald-Leader[/I] “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top-22 seniors in Kentucky … District Player of the Year … Two-year starter at free safety and wide receiver at Fort Campbell (Ky.) HS … Team went to the state playoffs both seasons, including an 11-2 mark and a trip to the state final eight his senior year … Teamed with fellow UK signee Gabriel Wallace to anchor a defense that allowed fewer than six points per game … Senior season featured 136 tackles and four interceptions, returning two of the picks for touchdowns … Caught 35 passes for 746 yards, an average of 21.3 yards per catch … Returned two punts for touchdowns … Honorable-mention all-state as a junior … Made 100 tackles in his junior campaign, intercepted six passes (returning two for touchdowns), and returned two punts for TDs … On offense, he had 532 receiving yards on 26 catches and also rushed for 189 yards on just 28 carries … Two-year all-area selection by the Clarksville [I]Leaf-Chronicle[/I] and the [I]Kentucky New Era[/I] newspapers; was the [I]Leaf-Chronicle[/I] area Most Valuable Player his junior year … Also a two-year choice on the All-Western Kentucky Conference team … Played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Vincent HS in Milwaukee, Wisc. … Started at safety and was the team’s backup quarterback as a freshman, then started at both positions his sophomore year … Helped lead team to the Milwaukee city championship both years and participated in the state playoffs … Picked All-South Region by [I]PrepStar[/I] magazine … The No. 5 prospect in Kentucky as named by [I]SuperPrep[/I] and Rivals.com … Listed the No. 40 safety prospect nationally by Rivals.com … Played in the Kentucky-Tennessee High School All-Star Game … Coached by Shawn Berner … “Marcus is an exceptional athlete who has the ability to change a game,” Berner said. “He has great leadership ability.” … His recruiting finalists included Kentucky, Illinois, and Louisville.
[B]Personal:[/B] Born in Chicago, Ill. … Son of Linda Kaye McClinton … Major is community communications and leadership development.
[B]Cummunity Cats:[/B] Helped work at a youth football clinic (2005) … Participated in the Skeeter Johnson Walk for Life and an event at Hayes Middle School (2007) … Guest visitor at the Dance Blue Marathon and also took part in events with the Boy Scouts and UK Children’s Hospital (2008).
[B]McClinton Career Statistics [/B]
Year Position G-GS Tackles TFL-Yds. Int.-Yds. PBU FC2004 Free Safety 11-3 27 2-2 1-0 1 22005 Free Safety 2-2 7 0 0 0 02006 Free Safety 13-13 65 2-3 4-13 6 52007 Free Safety 8-7 32 0 1-22 2 0Totals 34-25 131 4-5 6-35 9 7[B]McClinton Game-by-Game Statistics[/B]
[I]2006[/I]
Opponent Tackles Int.-Yds. PBUat Louisville 9 0 0Texas State 2 1-0 0Ole Miss 5 0 1at Florida 3 0 2Central Michigan 8 1-13 0South Carolina 2 0 1at LSU 4 0 0at Mississippi State 1 1-0 1Georgia 6 0 0Vanderbilt 5 1-0 0UL-Monroe 7 0 0at Tennessee 4 0 0vs. Clemson 9 0 1Totals 65 4-13 6[I]2007[/I]
Opponent Tackles Int-Yds. PBUEastern Kentucky 1 0 0Kent State INJLouisville 7 0 0at Arkansas 3 1-22 1Florida Atlantic 5 0 0at South Carolina 4 0 0LSU INJFlorida 3 0 1Mississippi State 4 0 0at Vanderbilt INJat Georgia INJTennessee INJvs. Florida State 5 0 0[/QUOTE]
[URL=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11mQ5tTSpU”][/URL]
[URL=”http://ekydrillers.com/”][SIZE=3]East Kentucky Drillers Official Website[/SIZE][/URL]
[URL=”http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eastern-Kentucky-Drillers/136044109773671″][SIZE=3]East Kentucky Drillers Facebook Page[/SIZE][/URL]
