I know some of you will give me a lot of flak for this comment, but I honestly think Clayton is our 3rd best receiver. That being said, I think Henderson and Green are one - two on our team. Henderson has the speed to die for and Green is so shifty and explosive he can not be stopped. I think both of those guys are destined for huge professional careers. Now I'm not saying Clayton is not one of the best overall receivers in the country... I am just of the opinion that he is the third best on our team.
Clayton is going against better competition You have to remember that each week the opposing team puts their best cover man against Clayton which as prevented him from racking up big numbers against highly ranked opponents. In the SEC almost every team has at least one shut down corner that can do a really good job of covering a stud from each team.
Clayton has some 7 more catches than Devery and 100? yards more. I think these guys are a great recieving corp, but big Mike brings many intangibles that the others are a shade weaker in. 1) In one-on-one coverage Clayton outsnags more balls than most in the country. 2) In double coverage all year, he still has more recepts and yards than the rest of our truly great recievers. 3) The guys a stud- he's huge and can cream DBs in blocking scheme situations. 4) In non-speed routes, he's the crispest route runner on the team, usually providing enough separation to get the catch. 5) His intangibles will put him much higher in a draft than the other WR on the team. That being said I think Devery runs the best post route and has some kind of x-factor shooting through his blood, but I attribute this to the single coverages he's been molesting for weeks. Green is clutch, too. I think Texas Tech only has a greater corp of recievers. That Symons guy spreads the ball around like grape jelly on toast. I think they have 4 of the top 50 recievers in college ball.
In addition, Clayton drew every DB on the field on that 3rd and short against UGA when Green made the great catch in the end zone. He attracts all the attention from the opponents. If I remember correctly the replay showed 5 DBs step towards Clayton (including Skylar's man) as Mauck rolled out and stared at the short cut Clayton was running. They are all afraid of this guy.
Clayton is not only the best receiver but he is in on almost every special team tackle. Just watch how many times, on KO and Punt returns, that number fourtenn pops into the picture just as it seems the opposing returner will break a long one. Clayton has by far the best hands of the three. He makes almost impossible catches seem routine. Henderson makes the routine catches seem difficult. He seems to juggles the easy thrown balls. I think Green is the most dangerous to the three in the open field.
YEAH! everyone is double covering Clayton and worrying about him which leaves our other recievers open.
You are dreaming, amigo. Clayton is the best receiver in the SEC. He's a first-round NFL pick whenever he decides to go.
