The first time I ever saw Clayton Wilson he was walking down the hallway of our dorm floor during our freshman year at Northwest Missouri State University, he was not wearing a shirt. As it would turn out, I would rarely see Clayton wearing a shirt. Up to that point in my life I had never seen a person my age as tall and ripped as this dude. I got to know Clayton better as the year went on and it turned out he’s just a normal farm kid from rural Iowa, who is nice to people, likes trucks, shares my love for Chic-Fil-A, has a good time, and just happens to be like 6ft 6, 245 with 4% body fat and can run, jump and catch with the best of them (I’m making those size numbers up, but they’re probably close).
Some people it seems are just born to play football and Clayton is certainly one of them from both a physical and mental standpoint. Not everyone can hang with the rigorous schedule of being a college football player; I remember another friend I had on the team at Northwest telling me when he quit after 3 years of playing that he was just sick of being 22 years old but feeling like he was 65 because of all the nagging injuries and daily workouts. Clayton doesn’t feel that
way, he loves it. Every single second of the grueling process, he loves it. Perhaps he’s cut from a different mold not only physically, but mentally. Clayton’s a smart guy, but maybe he has just enough “stupid cowboy” (which is a good thing according to Talladega Nights) in him to love the insane workouts and grueling schedule that most people can only handle for so long. This is what separates him from the pack. He was gifted superior physical tools but has developed an incredible work ethic that has set him on a path to make the most of what he’s been given. It has been a pleasure of mine to watch my friend work his butt off over his 5-year career at Northwest finally start to get some recognition and payoff for all his hard work. Now he's finally nearing the highest level of football.
After his senior year ended at Northwest, Clayton either felt like the game had something left to give him, he had something left to give it, or both, so he submitted his name to be considered in the NFL draft. Draft day came and went without his name being called, which didn’t come as a huge surprise to anyone, and didn’t bother Clayton much either. After all, he’s had to work to prove himself his whole college career coming from a small 8-man football program in high school to a perineal D-2 powerhouse, so why should his professional career where he’s coming from a small college start any differently? Clayton had interest from a few teams, but the Seattle Seahawks, who are needing a tight end after trading Jimmy Graham to the Packers this off season, called dibs. Clayton accepted their invitation to team camp with a chance to make the 90-man roster, hoped on a plane, blared some Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus (probably), and arrived in Seattle with a dream and his cardigan. He recently accomplished the first part of his goal, which was to make the 90-man roster and will have a chance to keep working toward the final 53-man roster that will be announced after the NFL preseason. He recently agreed to let me interview him about his experience in a mostly joking and random way since The Crossover is a junior varsity sports media outlet (even though we’re #TakingDownESPN) and like 15 people will read this so it shouldn’t hurt his chances in Seattle. Enjoy.
Q1. Have you caught a pass from our cousin Russel Wilson yet?
Yes I have, and I would say our cousin has a pretty dang good arm!
Q2. Obligatory question, so let's get it over with, is it raining a bunch in Seattle?
To be honest it does not rain as much as people think, which is very nice. The average temp daily here is probably 70-75 with about 35% humidity and mostly sunny, it’s absolutely beautiful out here.
Q3. Which memory do you remember more fondly: 1. Winning multiple D-2 National Championships? Or 2. Watching my girlfriend at the time, now wife chase my freshman room-mate around on our dorm floor spraying him with a bottle of Lysol after he got drunk and slept with a girl with me asleep in our room (which woke me up and traumatized me) and then proceeded to brag about it to her the next day?
Hahahaha that is definitely a toss-up, both very good memories that I will never forget!
Q4. Do you ever wear a shirt?
Hahahaha yes, I do although most of the time I prefer not to! Definitely known for not wearing a shirt though.
Q5. Who is your best friend so far on the Seahawks team?
It’s got to be the whole tight end group, we all get along great and are constantly helping one another be the best that we can be. This includes my tight end coach as well, he’s a great guy.
Q6. You played 8-man football in high school, do you think that any skills unique to the 8-man game have helped you get to this level or set you apart from other players who have only played 11-man?
I really don’t think so anymore but going into college it helped because I was in really good shape since 8-man football is very fast. The only thing I can think of for how it helped me is that obviously to play 8-man football the town has to be small, and I lived out in the country and worked on a farm every-day so I know how to work and will give it my all every time I am out on the field, weight-room, film room, etc.
Q7. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you were part of a state championship winning high school team and always had good high school teams, and obviously you won multiple national championships at Northwest, how has winning on those levels changed your mentality and approach to the game?
You would be correct sir, being a part of winning programs definitely changes your mentality because you know you are capable of somehow winning a game by any means necessary. Winning so many games through my career so far puts you in tons of different situations which provides the opportunity to learn how to handle each one. In approaching a game, you know you have a target on your back and you have to be able to handle everyone’s best every time you play a game.
Q8. What's the most you've ever bench pressed?
385 is my best, would love to get back to that!
Q9. Tell the story of how Seattle started expressing interest in you and how did you find out you were getting invited to training camp?
So, the first time I talked to them was after my pro day, and that was the only time I talked to them until 3 minutes after the draft. At that moment my phone rang, and I saw it was someone from Washington and my heart started beating like crazy, answered the phone and sure enough it was the Seahawks, they asked me if I wanted to continue my football career and come up to Seattle for the rookie minicamp and gave me a shot to make the 90-man roster, I said of course I would love that opportunity. So I came up here and did good enough for them to take a chance on me and sign a contract with them, so now I’m grinding day in and day out to try to make that 53-man roster.
Q10. Has it sunk in that you're actually in an NFL camp and have a chance to make the team? Like dude, you're going to play in nationally televised NFL preseason football games right?!
I will be able to play in 4 NFL preseason games, it definitely hit me while I was running routes with Russel Wilson on the first day of OTAs. Before that it was still just surreal.
Q11. What did the coaches say they like about you? What did they say they still want you to work on?
They told me they saw undeveloped talent and potential that I have not reached yet. They like my athleticism and ability to run and catch. The biggest thing need to work on is on the ball blocking.
Q12. Did any other NFL teams express interest in you?
Before and after my pro day I did talk to quite a few different teams, but in all honesty I did not talk to the Seattle Seahawks really at all until about 3 minutes after the draft when they called me to come out for rookie minicamp.
Q13. My wife Katie wants to know what your favorite Seattle restaurant is so far?
Oh boy, I don’t know. I might have to say the team cafeteria, the food they have in there for us is awesome, from fresh baked halibut to king salmon, and from great chicken to fantastic steak bites.
Q14. If you make the team, what's the first thing you're going to do with the big money from your contract?
Honestly, other than putting it in my savings account I have no clue. Just want to be as smart with my money as I can and save up because I have no clue how long I might be in the NFL so need to make the most of it while I can.
Q15. What does a typical day for someone in training camp look like?
So right now, we are in OTAs, usually 3 practices a week with 2 back to back and an off day with meetings and lifting then our last practice of the week. Usually leaves us with Fridays through Sunday off which is nice for recovering and getting your body right. But training camp from what I have seen on the schedule and talked to coach’s is a whole different story. So once training camp starts we have 12 actual practices before the first pre-season game so there isn’t a whole lot of time to prepare so we have to be very efficient and smart with our time we have. So that being said the days are about as full as they possibly can be.
Q16. What do you like to do other than football?
Other than football I love to go fishing, hangout with family and friends and blow stuff up shooting guns. Honestly, I do that a lot, it’s a great way to get that adrenaline pumping.
Q17. Like a solid 15 people are going to read this, who do you want to give a shout out to?
Haha well I would love to give a shout out to my family for the support that they have given me and continue to through this entire process. My girlfriend Sassie (yes that’s her real name) for sticking by my side and making this distance work. And a big one would be Bearcat Nation for getting me prepared and ready for a shot at the next level.
Q18. Anything people can be praying for you for?
For good physical health to keep grinding and make the 53-man roster.
Q19. When you make the team, what’s going to be your custom end zone celebration?
Oh I have no clue, probably won’t be dancing because I suck at that so will probably be like the old fashioned Gronk Spike.
Keep it up Clayton, all of rural Missouri and Iowa is rooting for you as well as Bearcat Nation.. especially the 4th floor of Perrin Hall. 4P for life.
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