Tarleton State University Athletics

John Clifford Jr. spent the last two years at defensive back at Independence CC, tallying an interception, three sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and 16 tackles (11 solo) in six games last year. He led all defensive backs at the JUCO level in both sacks and TFL’s. In four straight games played between Aug. 31-Oct. 7, Clifford posted multiple tackles for loss in each game, having his best game of the year against Garden City CC, where he recorded 2.5 TFL’s, a sack, six tackles and a pass breakup. The week before against Iowa Western CC, he recorded two sacks for a loss of 20 yards. He had his interception to go with two tackles for loss and five total tackles against Coffeyville CC on Sept. 9.
 
“He’s a guy that made a lot of tackles for Independence Community College,” head coach Todd Whitten said. “Losing Pat Jones back there at the safety spot, we felt it was critical to get a junior college safety in here to battle for that spot there. He’s a kid who played the run well, also did a good job versus the pass, and he’s going to be one of the candidates to fill the role vacated by Pat Jones.”
 
Clifford is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played his prep career at Winton Woods High School. There he played a year of varsity football, three varsity years of baseball, and two varsity years of wrestling. He intends to study Sports Management at Tarleton State University.