2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Clayton Johnson, CB, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Name: Clayton Johnson
• Height: 5’11
• Weight: 180 lb
• Position: Corner Back
• College: UTSA
• Twitter: Clayy_Johnson

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

•  I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I spent 15 quality years there. I loved my city, mainly for the fact there was nothing you could do if you were under 21. So a lot of time was spent to myself and playing football. In 2011 before I started my freshman year in high school I moved to Flower Mound, Texas where I would consider my home mentally, where a lot of my growing up took place. I loved my town, it was quite, beautiful to be around, and had felt every bit of energy that Texas high school football brought. I consider both to be my home, Vegas being my roots and Flower Mound where I spent my teenage years.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

•  Film Study, Practice, Strength and Conditioning. 

To me, I am a visual learner. I need to see a tendency, formation, receiver, scheme hundreds of times so it complete takes over my mental. I start to envision plays, how I would defend what plays in certain situations, and see if I can pick up a tendency or two both from the offense of unit we’re facing and special teams. Next, after I see it I need to rep it. Repeatedly, build my muscle memory and train my eyes to see what they need to see, that way I can play faster with my feet. In addition I can know how you want to attack me or my defense and I can visualize what is about to happen. I put Strength and Conditioning last not because I do not think it is important, its just the easiest component to do. After I have watched the film and practiced what I need to do, I take all that energy and thoughts and put it into my training. I visualize what plays im going to make over and over and it pushes me to go harder in the weight room and on the field. 

What do you worry about, and why?

•  I worry about not being able to provide for my family. I want to please the closest to me that helped me get to where I am at now. My family deserves it. 

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

•  I failed coming out of high school to receive an offer. I was defeated mentally, physically; I started to question my own ability to ball. After the season I decided to walk on at Oklahoma State and I am forever grateful that I did. I learned a lot under Coach Gundy, Glenn Spencer and Tim Duffie. Skills and life lessons that I have kept with me till this day. I had to go home after a season because of financial issues, I worked 2 jobs and trained everyday for 6 months before getting the opportunity to walkon and eventually earn a scholarship at UTSA. I continued to grind everyday and stay positive and convinced myself that everything that was happening was right on time. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

•  If I had to guess, it would have to be my football IQ and having quick feet. I take a lot of pride in both because I believe that my presnap reads and understanding my defense and what opposing offenses are trying to do to attack us. 

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

•  Jalen Hurd, Marcell Ateman, James Washington

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

•  Somewhere in the business world, marketing and AV production.  

Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?

•  Room, my living space is spotless. I have an OCD for organization with everything I do. Everything has a place and I know exactly where everything is. 

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

•  Family member. I will always choose blood over a stranger that has nothing to do with my life. 

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

•  I would be 

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

•  my biggest adversity was my transition from Oklahoma State to UTSA. the whole process from not playing or being in school, working 2 jobs and training and trying to stay positive about everything going on was my biggest adversity. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?

•  One time when I was a little kid I was at the mall with my nana, I thought it was cool to sit on the escalator until it got to the bottom and like roll off. That didnt happen my shirt got stuck and chewed up and it was embarrassing. 

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

•  My first every collegiate game that I played in was against Rice in 2017 where I had 2 interceptions. God works in amazing ways 

What song best describes your work ethic?

•  who’s stopping me: Big Sean

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

•  Intelligence 

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

•  Nippsey Hussle; Just need to pick his brain about life.

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

•  The Spot

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

•  Byron Jones, Keenan Allan 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

•  Respected; I dont need to be liked by everybody but I would like to be respected by most 

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

•  Collin Kapernick or Eric Reid. They stood up for a cause greater than themselves and football and took the backlash for it and never folded. Bend but dont break mentality. 

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

•  Hate to lose

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

•My mom and god. I grew closer to my mom as things got harder in college. I always felt as if I as alone even as a kid to now. I need to learn how to communicate and be able to have someone to turn and talk to when I needed it the most.