Clayton Holmes
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
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| Born: | August 23, 1969 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 | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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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.
Early years
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Dallas Cowboys
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]In 1999, he played for the Topeka Knights of the Indoor Football League.
Kansas Koyotes
[edit]In 2003, he signed with the Kansas Koyotes of the American Professional Football League, where he played for two seasons.
Personal life
[edit]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]
References
[edit]- ^ "Football Little All-America". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Road-weary Eagles recovering". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "Holmes out for year". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "Cowboys cut Holmes, Kennard". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "Miami signs former Cowboy Holmes for one year". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ "Dolphins bid adieu to Barnett". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ^ Holmes v. NFL, 939 F. Supp. 517 (N.D.Tex. 1996)
- ^ "From a Benz to a bike". Retrieved February 19, 2017.