Clayton Holmes

Last updated

Clayton Holmes
Clayton Holmes.jpg
No. 47
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1969-08-23) August 23, 1969 (age 55)
Florence, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:181 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school: Florence (SC) Wilson
College: Carson–Newman
NFL draft: 1992  / round: 3 / pick: 58
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:39
Tackles:35
Interceptions:1
Player stats at PFR

Clayton Holmes (born August 23, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected in the third round of the 1992 NFL draft. He played college football at Carson-Newman College.

Contents

Early years

Holmes attended Wilson High School where he was a wishbone quarterback. He received All-conference honors at both quarterback and defensive back.

He also lettered in baseball, track (long jump) and tennis. He set the state record in the Long Jump.

College career

Because of grades he enrolled at North Greenville Junior College where he was the starting quarterback and a Junior College All-American.

After 2 years, he transferred to Carson-Newman College where he was converted into a cornerback.

As a junior, he contributed to a 10–0 regular season record. He led the team in both interceptions (6), passes defensed (17) and interceptions returned for a touchdown (2-school record). He established a school and a NAIA single-season record with 263 yards in interception returns. He also earned NAIA All-American honors in the long jump.

As a senior in 1991, he became one of the NAIA top football players, finishing second in the NAIA and tied the school single-season record with eight 8 interceptions. His 199 yards in interception returns gave him 462 for a school career-record. He received the South Atlantic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year award, Little All-American honors and also played in the Blue–Gray Football Classic. [1]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Holmes was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (58th overall) of the 1992 NFL draft. [2] As a rookie, he was the fastest player on the team and was used mostly on special teams, finishing second on the team with 15 tackles and also registering a fumble recovery in Super Bowl XXVII.

On August 14, 1993, during the first pre-season game, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was lost for the season. [3]

In 1995, he started 6 games at cornerback in place of an injured Kevin Smith, while free agent Deion Sanders reached a contract agreement with the Dallas Cowboys. That same year in November, the NFL suspended him for four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. A week later, the suspension was increased to one year. [4]

While suspended, he incurred in a fifth violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy and was suspended for 4 additional games. On February 10, 1996, he was released from the team. [5]

Miami Dolphins

Holmes signed with the Miami Dolphins on February 26, 1997, reuniting him with former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson. [6] Looking to play for the first time since November 1995, he failed another drug test that resulted in a 4-game suspension and his eventual release on October 13, 1997. [7]

Topeka Knights

In 1999, he played for the Topeka Knights of the Indoor Football League.

Kansas Koyotes

In 2003, he signed with the Kansas Koyotes of the American Professional Football League, where he played for two seasons.

Personal life

Holmes filed suit against the NFL for involuntarily enrolling him in a drug treatment program, after he tested positive for marijuana, but his claim was dismissed. [8] His post-football life became a turbulent mix of personal problems and financial difficulties but he has got his life back on track since. [9]

Related Research Articles

Larry Brown Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXX and played college football at Texas Christian University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Henry (American football)</span> American football player (born 1976)

Anthony Danel Henry is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft and also played for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. He played college football at South Florida.

Marcus Coleman is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Mario Lashun Edwards Sr. is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Cowboys. He played college football at Florida State University.

Issiac Holt III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Alcorn State Braves. With the Cowboys, he won Super Bowl XXVII over the Buffalo Bills.

Derek Ross is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Ohio State University.

Craig Marion Kupp is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Pacific Lutheran University.

Patrick A. Dennis is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Larrimore</span> American football player (born 1976)

Kareem Maktrel Larrimore is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Dallas Desperados, Austin Wranglers, and Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League (AFL), and the Amarillo Dusters. He played college football at West Texas A&M.

Mike Mickens is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL), and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nolan Carroll</span> American football player (born 1987)

Nolan Alexander Carroll II is a former American football cornerback. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Maryland. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alterraun Verner</span> American football player (born 1988)

Alterraun Ennis Verner is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning first-team All-American honors. Verner was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was voted second-team All-Pro and named to the Pro Bowl with the Titans in 2013. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephon Gilmore</span> American football player (born 1990)

Stephon Stiles Gilmore is an American professional football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected tenth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2012 NFL draft. Gilmore spent his first five seasons with the Bills and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016 before joining the New England Patriots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendall Fuller</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kendall Christopher Fuller is an American professional football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. Fuller also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, recording a game-sealing interception in Super Bowl LIV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Byron Philip Jones is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UConn Huskies, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft after a stellar combine performance. He holds the unofficial world record for the standing long jump at 12 feet 3 inches. He played five seasons for the Cowboys, where he was once named Second-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. A free agent after his fifth season, Jones signed a five-year, $82 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xavien Howard</span> American football player (born 1993)

Xavien Howard is an American professional football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins, where he spent eight seasons with the team. During his tenure in Miami, Howard was a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro member, and led the league in interceptions twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chidobe Awuzie</span> American football player (born 1995)

Chidobe Richard Awuzie is an American professional football cornerback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. He played college football at Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xavier Woods (American football)</span> American football player (born 1995)

Xavier Woods is an American professional football safety for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisiana Tech.

Noah Igbinoghene is an American professional football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Igbinoghene has also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DaRon Bland</span> American football player (born 1999)

DaRon Bland is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets before transferring to the Fresno State Bulldogs. In 2023, he set the NFL single-season record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown with five.

References

  1. "Football Little All-America" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. "Road-weary Eagles recovering" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. "Holmes out for year" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. "Cowboys cut Holmes, Kennard" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. "Miami signs former Cowboy Holmes for one year" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. "Dolphins bid adieu to Barnett" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. Holmes v. NFL, 939 F. Supp. 517 (N.D.Tex. 1996)
  9. "From a Benz to a bike" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.