Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Nine days till kickoff — No. 9 Mark Clayton

By Connor Pasby

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 15: Wide receiver Mark Clayton #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners tries to sidestep defensive back Matt Johnson #23 of the Baylor Bears November 15, 2003 at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 41-3 to stay undefeated at 10-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 15: Wide receiver Mark Clayton #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners tries to sidestep defensive back Matt Johnson #23 of the Baylor Bears November 15, 2003 at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 41-3 to stay undefeated at 10-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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We have hit single digits until kickoff in Norman, so we take a look back at the career of former Oklahoma football wide receiver No. 9 Mark Clayton.

Clayton was one of the most dynamic receivers to ever step on the field in Norman and played a pivotal role in the Sooners back-to-back national championship runs.

The former first round pick finished 4th all-time in Oklahoma receiving with 3,236 yards and ranks 3rd in all-time touchdowns as a receiver. Let’s dive into the highlight-reel career of legendary receiver Mark Clayton.

Early years of Mark Clayton

Clayton was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but played his high school ball in Arlington, Texas. He was formerly a 3-star commit out of high school and took a scholarship to play at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops. In the 2000 season, the Sooners had many weapons in the receiving corps with Antwone Savage, Curtis Fagan, Andrew Woolfolk and Josh Norman, so Clayton ended up redshirting in his first season.

We got a significant glance of Clayton in his redshirt-freshmen campaign in 2001. He would finish his redshirt-freshmen season with 45 catches for 519 yards and found the end zone three times. Clayton was second on the Sooners team in receiving yards, behind Trent Smith. The OU-Texas game in 2001 gave Sooner fans a peep of what they ended up seeing for four years. He had 6 catches for 65 yards in the 14-3 Sooners victory.

Clayton continued to shine during his sophomore season. The lengthy, electrifying wideout had 26 receptions for 416 yards and added 5 touchdowns. He helped lead Oklahoma to a 12-2 record, including a Big 12 Championship over Colorado, and a Rose Bowl victory over Washington State.

The Growth of Mark Clayton

Clayton’s junior and senior seasons are fabled in the early 2000’s success at Oklahoma. Clayton led the Sooners in receiving in 2003 with 1,425 yards, along with 15 touchdowns. He had an absurd 17.2 receiving yards average in his junior season. In the unforgettable and laughable 77-0 victory over Texas A&M in 2003, Clayton had 7 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2003 Bedlam, he caught his 17th career touchdown pass (school record at the time) and ended the game with six receptions and 96 yards in the Bedlam win. Clayton’s gunslinger, Jason White, won the Heisman Trophy for Oklahoma in 2003. He was White’s main target during the National Championship run in 2003, which came inches short in the 21-14 loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

Just like in 2003, Clayton led the Sooners in receiving, once again, the following season. Clayton helped guide the Sooners to a 12-1 record in 2004, which dramatically ended as a 55-19 defeat to USC in the National Championship. He was a major part in four out of the five wins over the rival Texas Longhorns, during his time at Oklahoma. Clayton would finish his Sooner career with nine 100-yard games, during the four playing years at OU. We will always remember the long ball threat Clayton was, and the dynamic plays in the big-time moments for Oklahoma.

Clayton was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens and would go on to play seven seasons in the NFL.

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