MarcusMcClinton

Has been the team’s starting free safety, when available, over the last three seasons … Looks to bounce back after injuries troubled him through much of the 2007 season … Has an excellent instinct for being around the ball … Has appeared in 34 games, starting 25 … Has made 131 tackles for his career … Enjoys singing as a hobby and has made his own music videos.

2007 (Junior): Played in eight games, missing five contests because of three separate injuries … Had 32 tackles for the year, including a season high of seven in the win over Louisville … Notched an interception against Arkansas, an acrobatic leaping grab — taking the ball away from the receiver — which was one of ESPN’s Top-10 “Plays of the Day.”

2006 (Sophomore): Led team in interceptions with four … Forced five fumbles during the season, tying for the national lead for most fumbles caused … Responsible for three turnovers vs. Central Michigan, tallying an interception, fumble recovery, and causing a fumble that was recovered by the Wildcats … Had 65 tackles on the season with career-best nine at Louisville and in the Music City Bowl vs. Clemson … Played well in the bowl game with a caused fumble and pass breakup in addition to his nine stops … Second on the team in pass breakups with six.

2005 (Sophomore): Started the first two games at free safety before enduring a season-ending injury vs. Idaho State … Made seven tackles … Received a medical hardship and retained the year of eligibility.

2004 (Freshman): Played in all 11 games … Started the last three at free safety after Muhammad Abdullah moved to strong safety … Made 27 tackles for the season, featuring two for loss … 21 of his tackles came in his three starting assignments, including a season-high of eight against Vanderbilt and Tennessee … Got an interception against South Carolina … Tied for the team lead in fumbles caused with two.

High School: Outstanding safety prospect with good size and athleticism … First-team all-state as a senior by Louisville Courier-Journal, second-team all-state by The Associated Press … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top-22 seniors in Kentucky … District Player of the Year … Two-year starter at free safety and wide receiver at Fort Campbell (Ky.) HS … Team went to the state playoffs both seasons, including an 11-2 mark and a trip to the state final eight his senior year … Teamed with fellow UK signee Gabriel Wallace to anchor a defense that allowed fewer than six points per game … Senior season featured 136 tackles and four interceptions, returning two of the picks for touchdowns … Caught 35 passes for 746 yards, an average of 21.3 yards per catch … Returned two punts for touchdowns … Honorable-mention all-state as a junior … Made 100 tackles in his junior campaign, intercepted six passes (returning two for touchdowns), and returned two punts for TDs … On offense, he had 532 receiving yards on 26 catches and also rushed for 189 yards on just 28 carries … Two-year all-area selection by the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle and the Kentucky New Era newspapers; was the Leaf-Chronicle area Most Valuable Player his junior year … Also a two-year choice on the All-Western Kentucky Conference team … Played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Vincent HS in Milwaukee, Wisc. … Started at safety and was the team’s backup quarterback as a freshman, then started at both positions his sophomore year … Helped lead team to the Milwaukee city championship both years and participated in the state playoffs … Picked All-South Region by PrepStar magazine … The No. 5 prospect in Kentucky as named by SuperPrep and Rivals.com … Listed the No. 40 safety prospect nationally by Rivals.com … Played in the Kentucky-Tennessee High School All-Star Game … Coached by Shawn Berner … “Marcus is an exceptional athlete who has the ability to change a game,” Berner said. “He has great leadership ability.” … His recruiting finalists included Kentucky, Illinois, and Louisville.

Personal: Born in Chicago, Ill. … Son of Linda Kaye McClinton … Major is community communications and leadership development.

Cummunity Cats: Helped work at a youth football clinic (2005) … Participated in the Skeeter Johnson Walk for Life and an event at Hayes Middle School (2007) … Guest visitor at the Dance Blue Marathon and also took part in events with the Boy Scouts and UK Children’s Hospital (2008).

McClinton Career Statistics

YearPositionG-GSTacklesTFL-Yds.Int.-Yds.PBUFC2004Free Safety11-3272-21-0122005Free Safety2-2700002006 Free Safety13-13652-34-13652007Free Safety8-73201-2220Totals34-25    131    4-5      6-35   97

McClinton Game-by-Game Statistics
2006

OpponentTacklesInt.-Yds.PBUat Louisville900Texas State21-00Ole Miss501at Florida302Central Michigan81-130South Carolina201at LSU400at Mississippi State11-01Georgia600Vanderbilt51-00UL-Monroe700at Tennessee400vs. Clemson901Totals654-136

2007

Opponent       TacklesInt-Yds.PBUEastern Kentucky100Kent StateINJLouisville700at Arkansas31-221Florida Atlantic500at South Carolina400LSUINJFlorida301Mississippi State400at VanderbiltINJat GeorgiaINJTennesseeINJvs. Florida State500Totals321-222