Would not surprise me to see him as a day 2 draft pick...I wonder if the staff would even let him participate in OSU's pro day?
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bassbuckeye07
Hall of Fame
y0yoyoin;1834905; said:
That would be a steal kind of like wright is or was
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Buckskin86
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I was there ... Eugene Clifford
Mar. 5, 2011
Written by
Nick Hurm
[email protected]
Eugene Clifford / Enquirer file photo
CINCINNATI -- Leading up to the NFL Draft, The Enquirer will be talking weekly to three area draft prospects: Colerain graduate Eugene Clifford, a defensive back out of Tennessee State; Moeller graduate Greg Jones, a linebacker out of Michigan State; and Highlands graduate Ben Guidugli, a tight end out of the University of Cincinnati. Starting Monday, you can read more from the players at Cincinnati.com, search: NFL diaries.
Eugene Clifford was one of the most decorated high school football players in the country in the class of 2007. Coming out of Colerain, he was Ohio's Division I defensive player of the year as a senior, with 130 tackles and four interceptions as he helped lead the Cardinals to an undefeated regular season and a state semifinals berth. Scout.com rated the Parade All-American as the No. 2 safety in the country. There were great expectations from Buckeyes fans when Clifford signed his letter of intent to play football at Ohio State, but he played in only four games as a freshman and in December 2007 was suspended for violating team rules. In July 2008 he was charged with misdemeanor assault, and that sealed his fate with the Buckeyes. Clifford transferred to Tennessee State and says he has matured both on and off the field.
"I was just there making stupid mistakes, doing stuff I wasn't suppose to be doing," Clifford said of his early troubles. "It had nothing to do with Ohio State, it was all me. Ohio State was a great scene for me. They gave me the best opportunity - I just didn't take full advantage of it.
"I have great role models that talk to me. You can't keep on doing wrong - you have to eventually grow up and take responsibility for your actions. I feel like God has blessed me, and now I'm not going to jeopardize that for me or my family."
In his three seasons at Tennessee State, Clifford totaled 204 tackles, nine interceptions, 26 passes defended, 35 pass breakups, four fumbles recovered and three forced fumbles. He was a national finalist for the Buck Buchanan award, given to the best defensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and he was a member of the all-Ohio Valley team all three seasons.
Clifford wasn't invited to the NFL's scouting combine but has been training for his pro day workout. He worked with Florida State's track coach for two weeks.
"I'm in the best shape of my life," Clifford said. "I look in the mirror sometimes and can't believe I look like this."
Projections have Clifford being selected in rounds 4-6 of April's draft, but a good pro day workout could raise his stock.
Clifford plans to be back in town for the draft.
"I'll probably watch the whole (draft)," he said. "I know a lot of guys who are going to be in the draft, so when their name comes up I want to shoot them a text to say congratulations. Hopefully my name will come up, too."
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/...e-Clifford?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|s
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