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IOWA CITY — Adrian Clayborn knows all about the Ndamukong Suh story, and it shouldn't be a surprise that he doesn't seem overly taken by the plot.
No disrespect to the Husker legend. Clayborn is well aware of Suh's talent and ability.
But Clayborn is the Hawkeyes' own poster boy on the defensive line, a blocker's nightmare with that rare blend of strength and speed. And don't look now, but the Iowa defensive end — his stock steadily rising ever since he chose to wait on the NFL last winter — might just be at the doorstep of a Suh-like season, serving as the high-profile anchor for a team with legitimate hopes for a conference title.
That may be why Clayborn is not gushing with admiration as he discusses Suh's on-the-field production. Clayborn, even if he won't admit it directly, feels he's not too far behind.
“He did some great things,” Clayborn said. “There's a lot of d-linemen out there. (Suh had) the media hype. He's a great player, though. He's definitely deserved to be the first defensive linemen in the draft. It's something to push yourself for.”
Can Clayborn be that good?
A good question for June, when optimism is overflowing on every campus. Clayborn would rather not speculate.
At the very least, the Hawkeyes are hopeful that their game-changer up front is as productive as he was last season. As a junior, Clayborn totaled 70 tackles — 20 behind the line of scrimmage — and recorded 11½ sacks, finishing 2009 as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree.
He showed up on the biggest stages, too. Clayborn blocked a punt and returned it 53 yards in a 21-10 win at Penn State. He had a career-high 12 total tackles in a 27-24 overtime loss at Ohio State. He won the Orange Bowl's MVP award.
“He's a beast,” fellow defensive lineman Karl Klug said. “His size, his speed, his nonstop motor — he's got it all. You'll see him run around people. You'll see him overpower guys. When you combine all that together, it just makes him unstoppable almost.”
But Clayborn saw room for improvement. It's one of the main reasons he's still at Iowa, and not earning a paycheck for some NFL franchise.
“I want to finish off what I started,” Clayborn said. “I don't think I've done all I've wanted to do yet. I want to finish off right.”
That should sound familiar.
It was almost exactly Suh's mission statement at this time last year, when the emerging NFL prospect resisted the draft-day temptation and committed to one final season at Nebraska.
Suh, the second overall pick in 2010, is now a Detroit Lion. The patience paid off. Suh had 85 tackles, 24 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 20 sacks as a Husker senior, earning seemingly every notable defensive award and a trip to the Heisman finalist banquet in New York City.
Expectations are rising for Clayborn, too. Some publications list him as a preseason first-team All-American. Most mock drafts predict that he's a mid-first-round selection. Opposing coaches are already diagramming game plans to limit his potential impact.
Clayborn understands he'll have to work for success. He won't be surprised if it comes, though.
“Just trying to be better than I was last season is going to take a lot, but I feel like I've got to be better to make this team better,” Clayborn said. “I'm going to have to have a great season this year. I cannot get drafted (now). I've just got play hard.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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