Senior Justin Clayton has played in five games and made eight tackles, prior to the UNLV game. He is a three-year letterwinner who has steadily improved each year in the program and is a regular in the linebacker rotation. Clayton is not very tall, but powerfully built and plays with an extremely high motor. He is always around the ball during his playing time and simply finds ways to make plays. Clayton began his career at safety before moving to linebacker, a position he played early in his high school career. Clayton earned his degree in Criminology in May and is taking graduate courses this fall.
Question: What is the best part about playing linebacker?
Justin Clayton: The contact. That’s basically what we do is hit all the time, every play, and at my size it is a lot more fun because I’m a smaller guy and I get to go against big guys every play.
Q: Do you miss playing special teams at all?
JC: Not really, but it is an important part of the game. Playing on defense is a lot more fun and exciting.
Q: You already have your bachelor’s degree in Criminology – how is graduate school going and are there any differences?
JC: Not really because a lot of the criminology courses I took had graduate students in it. Graduate classes are just more focused on certain things, but it isn’t any harder.
Q: What are you looking to do with your degrees?
JC: I want go to law school and become a lawyer.
Q: Your from Los Angeles, how did you deal with the traffic out there?
JC: It’s not bad. You get used to it. The population grows every time I go back so there is more and more traffic every time I go back.
Q: Where is the best place to eat in L.A.?
JC: El Cholo’s Mexican restaurant.
Q: What is the best beach in California and why?
JC: Venice. It’s an exciting tourist place.
Q: If you could walk down the red carpet at an awards show with anyone, who would it be and why?
JC: Coach Lewis, because he’s going to hire me one day as his assistant coach.
Q: What part in any movie that you have seen would you want to play and why?
JC: The Rock in Gridiron Gang, because he helps underprivileged and troubled kids and I would like to maybe do that some day.
Q: If you could invite two people to dinner, who would it be and why?
JC: Cody Kase and George Carter, because those are my friends and I have a good time with them.
Q: What is your favorite type of music?
JC: I like all music.
Q: Give me the three best bands or artists of all time?
JC: 2PAC, James Brown and Al Green.
Q: Favorite breakfast cereal?
JC: Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Q: Favorite meal?
JC: Lasagna.
Q: Favorite local place to eat?
A: Saggios.
Q: Who do you think would win a 3-point shooting contest: Quincy Black, Cody Kase or Major Moseley and why?
JC: Cody Kase, because he’s a better shooter.