Tulsa World: Up close: Keenan Clayton

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Up close: Keenan Clayton

OU's Keenan Clayton records a sack against Washington earlier this season. Clayton had 14 tackles last week against Baylor. TOM GILBERT/ Tulsa World file

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 10/9/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 10/9/2008 3:45 AM

NORMAN — A visitor approached Keenan Clayton after practice Monday night and congratulated the Oklahoma junior on being named Big 12 Conference co-defensive player of the week. Clayton never made eye contact. He looked down, fidgeted with some tape and shook his head.

"I had 14 tackles," he said of his effort at Baylor last Saturday, "but if I would have had 14 tackles making the guy go back or holding him to a minimal gain, I could have walked out of there with a pat on the back. But it wasn't like that.

"Statistically, it was a great game. But to me, I watched the tape and it wasn't a good game."

The way Clayton sees it, he'll need to be much, much better from his safety/strongside linebacker position against Texas Saturday. The Sooners anticipate he will be.

"He's a really good athlete and a prideful guy on how he plays," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "There are just some things that could be a little cleaner. But he still made a ton of plays. Keenan knows he can be better than that and wants to be. And I appreciate that."

Considering this is Clayton's first year in the hybrid position — he started the 2006 season at safety but was benched after two games, then played mostly special teams in '07 — the Sooners couldn't be much happier with his progress. Clayton simply wants to speed the process along, particularly as he prepares for Saturday's Red River renewal.

You're a Texan. Did you ever consider playing for the Longhorns?

Baylor was the first

(scholarship) offer I had. Texas never offered. I went to their camp, but things didn't work out. I came up here and liked it a lot better.

Is Sulphur Springs a Texas stronghold?

Everybody from my hometown roots for Texas. I watched Texas. And then when I got older and started to understand, I was like, 'Well, Texas ain't really the team that's getting it done.' I'm happy where I'm at.

You catch any grief when you return home?

There aren't any hard feelings. You might be walking through the grocery store and you'll hear somebody holler from the aisle over, 'Longhorns gonna get the Sooners this year!' Last year, after we beat the Longhorns, I went back home and everybody was like, 'Next year, next year.'

What about your family?

Believe it or not, my little sister is a Longhorn fan. We can't get her to switch over. She's 20. My little brother just enrolled at Texas A&M as a freshman. He's 12th Man to the fullest. But when we go there, he said he will put on a Sooner shirt and sit in the stands. But my sister? No way. No way at all. She's Texas this, Texas that.

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

CLAYTON FACTS

Position: Linebacker/ safety

Class: Junior

Height: 6-2

Weight: 220

Hometown: Sulphur Springs, Texas

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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