Iowa Football: Adrian Clayborn’s 6 Sack Performance Brings Back Hawkeye Memories

The best performance of any pass rusher in the NFL this season in a game didn’t come from Von Miller or JJ Watt. It was the historic 6 sack evening for former Hawkeye and Atlanta Falcon Adrian Clayborn.

In a matchup where he faced what it considered the best offensive line in the NFL, in the Cowboys, Clayborn feasted on backup offensive tackle Chaz Green.

Clayborn reached the 6 sack plateau. That has only been done by three others players in the history of the game. Only the late, great Derrick Thomas has ever been able to single handedly get to 7 in a game in the famous massacre of Dave Krieg and the Seahawks. Clayborn was the first player to get 6 sacks in one game in ten years (Osi Umenyiora).

For most of the national football audience, it may have come as a surprise. But, for Iowa fans that grew to know Clayborn as one of the best defensive lineman, and overall defense players in the programs storied history.

A consensus All-American, Clayborn also won the Orange Bowl MVP in the Hawkeyes BCS victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. It was memorable games against Northern Iowa (blocked field goals) and a blocked punt in Happy Valley against Penn State that also sealed Clayborn’s legacy in Iowa City.

The defensive lines at Iowa in that time period were full of future NFL players. Along with Clayborn were Christian Ballard (played for the Vikings), Karl Klug (still with the Titans) and Mike Daniels of the Packers who is listed as one of the best overall players in the NFL.

Iowa hasn’t had a dominant pass rusher since Clayborn left in 2010. Drew Ott was among the best, until injury cut short his senior season. Hope is that true freshmen AJ Epenesa can evolve into the preeminent rusher not only for Iowa, but in the Big Ten like #94 was nearly a decade ago.

ESPN’s Vaughn McClure wrote how Clayborn balanced a possible retirement before this season.

"“I gave it thought for about a month,” Clayborn said. “I shared it with my wife. I told Gerald. I told my agent, Blake [Baratz]. My wife talked me out of it.”Clayborn said tearing biceps on both arms and undergoing significant surgeries on both knees for ACL and MCL tears took their toll.“I was tired of being hurt,” Clayborn said."

Clayborn has battled injuries for much of his career since being a first round selection with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of those injuries was a torn bicep that kept the veteran pass rusher out for the Super Bowl last season, in which the Falcons lost to the Patriots.

But, a potential Pro Bowl season is now in range for the St Louis-native as the 6 sack flurry put him in the top ten in the league in sacks. He is tied currently with the great Von Miller, is ahead of the likes of Justin Houston, and is just behind elite rushers Joey Bosa and Chandler Jones.

Earlier in Iowa’s season, Clayborn was celebrated as the ‘honorary captain’ for the Hawkeyes. Not many active players are bestowed that honor, but it was more than deserving for the Hawkeye legend.

What will the encore be for Clayborn on Monday Night Football against the Seahawks. Stay tuned.