Clayborn, a defensive end from the University of Iowa (6'3", 281lbs), was an All-Big Ten player his senior year. He suffers from a medical condition called Erb's Palsy, a syndrome caused by nerve damage in the upper arm, and was told by doctors at a young age to avoid playing contact sports. Nonetheless, Clayborn was the 2005 Missouri Player of the Year coming out of high school in St. Louis, where he played linebacker and tight end.
At Iowa, Clayborn redshirted as a freshman, emerging as a defensive end in his second year, getting some playing time in 12 games. As a redshirt sophomore, he started 11 games and recorded 50 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. As a junior, Clayborn recorded an amazing 20 tackles for loss on his way to 70 tackles for the season (36 solo) and four forced fumbles. His top-flight play brought him national attention and he was an early entry candidate for the 2010 NFL Draft. Clayborn elected to stay in school, and while his statistics were not a jaw dropping as his junior year, he was selected team captain for a second straight year (a recurring theme in GM Mark Dominik's draft picks).
(Background information condensed from NFLDraftScout.com information at CBSSports.com)
Notable Other Possibilities Were:
Cameron Jordan, DE, California (to Saints with Pick #24)
Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson (not drafted in the first round)
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama (to Saints at Pick #28, who traded up; first running back selected in 2011)
Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College (to Indianapolis with Pick #22)
Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin (to Chicago with Pick #29)
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