Kaelin Clay Explained

Kaelin Clay
Number:81, 13, 12, 15
Position:Wide receiver
Return specialist
Birth Date:3 January 1992
Birth Place:Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:195
High School:Long Beach Polytechnic
Draftyear:2015
Draftround:6
Draftpick:184
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Pfr:ClayKa00
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:6
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:85
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statlabel4:Return yards
Statvalue4:803
Statlabel5:Return touchdowns
Statvalue5:2

Kaelin Clay (born January 3, 1992) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes,[1] [2] [3] earning first-team All-American honors in 2014. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Early life

Clay attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California.[4] He caught 20 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns in his junior season on a team that won the Southern Section title. He began his SuperPrep All-American and All-Moore League senior season as a wide receiver before moving to the backfield for the final four games. He rushed for 1,048 yards and posted another 524 receiving to combine for 1,572 rushing and receiving yards as a senior while scoring 15 touchdowns (eight receiving, seven rushings) and adding 13 punt returns for 206 yards. Clay was ranked as the No. 53 wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com and the media outlet's No. 79 player overall in the state of California.[5]

Also a standout track & field athlete, Clay finished third in the state in the 100-meter dash (10.44) and fourth in the 200-meter dash (21.07) as a senior in 2010 with career-best times in both. He helped his track squad win Moore League titles in each his four seasons, while he was a four-time winner (100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100 meter relay, 4x400 meter relay) at the league track meet in each of his final two seasons, as well as the winner in both the 100m and 200m for each of his final three campaigns.

College career

Clay played one year at Utah after transferring from Mt. San Antonio College, where he was named first-team all-conference with 16 touchdowns.[6] [7] He made four different All-American teams as a return specialist in 2014 with Utah and was named first-team All-Pac-12 Conference as a return specialist. He also finished the season with a punt return average of 15.0 and three touchdowns. Also returned a kickoff for a touchdown last season and had a 24.9 average on kickoff returns.

On November 8, 2014, Clay received national coverage when, with Utah up 7–0 against the Oregon Ducks, on what would have been Clay's defining 79-yard touchdown for his collegiate career, he celebrated prematurely and dropped the ball on the 1-yard line, allowing Oregon's Joe Walker to recover the ball and return it 99 yards for a touchdown in the opposite direction, changing the potential 14–0 score to a 7–7 tie; Oregon would go on to win the game 51–27.[8] [9]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Clay in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL draft with the 184th overall pick.[10] [11] On September 5, 2015, he was waived by the Buccaneers and was signed to the practice squad.[12] [13] On September 15, 2015, he was released by the Buccaneers.[14]

Detroit Lions

On September 22, 2015, Clay was signed by the Detroit Lions to the practice squad.[15]

Baltimore Ravens

On November 17, 2015, Clay was signed by the Baltimore Ravens from the Lions' practice squad.[16] On November 22, 2015, Clay played in his first career game against the St. Louis Rams.[17] The next week against their divisional rival, Cleveland Browns, Clay returned the Browns’ first punt for an 82-yard touchdown on Monday Night Football.[18] [19]

During the August 11 preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, Clay fumbled a punt, giving Carolina possession. He was waived/injured by the Ravens on August 15, 2016, and was placed on injured reserve.[20] He was released from the Ravens' injured reserve list on November 11, 2016.[21]

Carolina Panthers (first stint)

On April 7, 2017, Clay signed a one-year contract with the Panthers.[22]

Buffalo Bills (first stint)

On September 2, 2017, Clay was traded to the Buffalo Bills for cornerback Kevon Seymour.[23] He was waived by the Bills on October 23, 2017.[24]

Carolina Panthers (second stint)

On October 24, 2017, Clay was claimed off waivers by the Panthers.[25] On November 26, 2017, he returned a punt for a touchdown against the New York Jets. It was the second of his career.[26]

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

On March 29, 2018, Clay signed with the Bills.[27] He was waived on September 1, 2018.[28]

New York Giants

On September 1, 2018, Clay was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants.[29] He was placed on injured reserve on September 25, 2018, after suffering a sprained ankle in Week 2.[30] He was released on October 2, 2018.

Salt Lake Stallions

On December 22, 2018, Clay signed with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football.[31] He was placed on injured reserve on March 13, 2019. The league ceased operations in April 2019.[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: After blunder goes viral, Utah's Kaelin Clay fights to put it behind him (with video) . The Salt Lake Tribune . The Salt Lake Tribune . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150504085348/http://www.sltrib.com/sports/1812699-155/clay-com-utah-return-oregon-daily . May 4, 2015 .
  2. Web site: Brad Rock: Utah's Kaelin Clay shows the way to move on . Brad Rock . December 18, 2014 . DeseretNews.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102508/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865618011/Utahs-Kaelin-Clay-shows-the-way-to-move-on.html?pg=all . May 18, 2015 .
  3. Web site: Utah WR Clay moves on from gaffe . MARK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL . Las Vegas Review-Journal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084412/http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/football/las-vegas-bowl/utah-wr-clay-moves-gaffe . May 18, 2015 .
  4. News: Seven Long Beach Poly alumni make NFL rosters . September 3, 2017 . Press Telegram . June 6, 2018 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Kaelin Clay Biography . calbears.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223157/http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=207870014 . March 4, 2016 .
  6. Web site: Kaelin Clay College Stats . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . June 6, 2018.
  7. Web site: Kaelin Clay . Mt. San Antonio College . en . June 6, 2018 .
  8. News: Peters. Micah. Utah's Kaelin Clay makes all-time goof, drops the ball too soon, Oregon returns it for TD. Oregon went on to win the game 51–27. . November 9, 2014. USA Today. November 9, 2014.
  9. Web site: Oregon at Utah Box Score, November 8, 2014 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . June 6, 2018.
  10. Web site: 2015 NFL Draft Listing . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . June 6, 2018.
  11. Web site: Buccaneers Draft WR Kaelin Clay . Buccaneers.com . May 2, 2015 . January 28, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820071419/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Buccaneers-Draft-WR-Kaelin-Clay/35ed16b0-19f6-409b-a3b7-6cdc6c187d96 . August 20, 2016 .
  12. Web site: Tough Cuts: Buccaneers Get to 53 . Smith, Scott . Buccaneers.com . September 5, 2015 . January 28, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170201043446/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Tough-Cuts-Buccaneers-Get-to-53/d3e673f9-2ef5-427b-8b71-fed321166ec0 . February 1, 2017 .
  13. Web site: Buccaneers Add to Practice Squad . Smith, Scott . Buccaneers.com . September 8, 2015 . January 28, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170127015656/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Add-to-Practice-Squad/07007f22-5cd5-4dc4-8397-2e39720fc4d3 . January 27, 2017 .
  14. Web site: Bucs Release Kaelin Clay, Cameron Brate . Buccaneers.com . September 15, 2015 . January 28, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160203235144/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Bucs-Release-Kaelin-Clay-Cameron-Brate/9540c634-31ee-4499-8d7e-acdf1ef01841 . February 3, 2016 .
  15. Web site: Detroit Lions add speedster Kaelin Clay to practice squad. DemAra, Max. September 23, 2015. January 28, 2017.
  16. Web site: BaltimoreRavens.com . Ravens Waive Asa Jackson, Jeremy Ross . November 17, 2015 . Garrett . Downing . November 27, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151121192615/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Waive-Asa-Jackson-Jeremy-Ross/67344af0-8e1a-4172-aca2-080f141060ba . November 21, 2015 .
  17. Web site: St. Louis Rams at Baltimore Ravens - November 22nd, 2015 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . June 6, 2018.
  18. Web site: Watch Kaelin Clay give Baltimore a 7-0 lead on Monday Night Football . Cleveland.com . November 30, 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208113932/http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/11/watch_kaelin_clay_give_baltimo.html . December 8, 2015 .
  19. Web site: Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - November 30th, 2015 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . June 6, 2018.
  20. Web site: Ravens Waive Injured Returner Kaelin Clay . Mink, Ryan . BaltimoreRavens.com . August 15, 2016 . January 28, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043916/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Waive-Injured-Returner-Kaelin-Clay-/c83ba9c4-3021-4016-b375-427fca7d2dac . February 2, 2017 .
  21. Web site: Kaelin Clay: Released from IR . CBSsports.com . November 11, 2016 . March 18, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170318173206/http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/kaelin-clay-released-from-ir/ . March 18, 2017 .
  22. Web site: Panthers sign Kaelin Clay . Strickland, Bryan . Panthers.com . April 7, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171221/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-sign-Kaelin-Clay/c108989f-0cd6-4560-92ea-9a524d62753a . April 8, 2017 .
  23. Web site: Bills trade Seymour to Panthers for WR Clay and a pick. https://web.archive.org/web/20180313210945/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-trade-Seymour-to-Panthers-for-WR-Clay-and-a-pick/18bcb000-0be5-4e7d-80da-d9fffc81ce5d. dead. March 13, 2018. Brown, Chris. BuffaloBills.com. September 2, 2017.
  24. Web site: Bills awarded waiver claim for CB McRae; release WR Clay. Brown, Chris. BuffaloBills.com. October 23, 2017.
  25. Web site: Panthers claim WR Kaelin Clay off waivers. https://web.archive.org/web/20180308223811/http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Panthers-claim-WR-Kaelin-Clay-off-waivers/3aa675f8-8686-418c-b908-34e816809aba. dead. March 8, 2018. Strickland, Bryan. Panthers.com. October 24, 2017.
  26. Web site: Carolina Panthers at New York Jets - November 26th, 2017 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . June 6, 2018.
  27. Web site: Bills bring back WR Kaelin Clay. Brown, Chris. BuffaloBills.com. March 29, 2018.
  28. Web site: Bills make these moves to reach the 53-man roster limit. BuffaloBills.com. September 1, 2018.
  29. Web site: Giants waive QB Davis Webb, announce practice squad among roster moves. Eisen, Michael. Giants.com. September 2, 2018.
  30. Web site: TE Garrett Dickerson called up from practice squad; Kaelin Clay waived/injured. Eisen, Michael. Giants.com. September 25, 2018.
  31. Web site: Salt Lake Stallions Sign Four More Locals. KSL Sports. December 22, 2018. February 5, 2019.
  32. Web site: Rothstein . Michael . Wickersham . Seth . June 13, 2019 . Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football . January 9, 2024 . ESPN.com.

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