Chris Clifton Season 2003

16 - Chris CliftonPosition: Split End
Class: r-Junior
Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 205 lbs.

High School: Deep Creek
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.

       Is becoming more comfortable at the split end position after beginning his Tech career as a quarterback ... Will still serve as the Hokies' No. 3 signal-caller, but has the potential to become a contributor as a receiver ... Got a limited taste of action at receiver last fall ... Started on the punt return team ... Brings height and athletic ability to the receiver position ... Earned Super Iron Hokie honors in the strength and conditioning program during the off-season ... Had a productive spring catching the football, but must continue to learn the offensive scheme and defenses ... Has shown the type of desire it takes to be successful ... Developing consistency will be important in his quest for playing time ... Will get a good look when preseason practice opens in August ...

2002: Saw action on 10 offensive plays in the opener against Arkansas State ... Played two snaps on special teams ... Was in for eight special teams plays against LSU ... Played three snaps on special teams against Marshall ... Saw brief action on special teams at Texas A&M ... Saw brief action on offense and seven plays on special teams at Western Michigan ... Was in for two plays on special teams in the win at Boston College ... Saw action on six offensive and seven special teams plays against Rutgers ... Was in for six special teams plays against Temple and five against both Pittsburgh and Syracuse ... Played in Tech's jayvee game against Hargrave to get some extra experience ... Contributed three catches for 34 yards ... Saw action in Tech's bowl game against Air Force ... Improved on all four lifts during spring max testing ... Grabbed three touchdown passes and five total receptions for 97 yards during Tech's last major scrimmage of the spring ... Had three catches for 25 yards and a TD in another scrimmage ... Finished with the most receiving yards in the Maroon-Whtie game with two catches for 53 yards ... His 36-yard catch was the longest of the game ...

2001: Practiced at quarterback when preseason workouts opened in August ... Spent some time as a receiver on the scout team while redshirting during the fall ... His 34 1/2-inch vertical jump tied for second-best among incoming freshmen ... Posted a 400-pound back squat during spring testing and ran a 4.54 40 ... Opened spring practice at quarterback before switching to receiver ... Had a 17-yard reception in one spring scrimmage and a 6-yard catch in another ... Hauled in two passes for 18 yards during the Maroon-White game ...

High School: Was 23-2 as the starting quarterback for Coach David Cox at Deep Creek ... Led the team to the Group AAA Division 6 title game as a senior ... Threw for 1,286 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior season and added nearly 300 yards and six TDs rushing ... Passed for 192 yards and three TDs in a playoff game against Princess Anne ... Tossed four touchdown passes during a 28-26 loss to Centreville in the championship game after seeing his team fall behind 28-0 ... Finished that game with 225 yards passing ... Earned PrepStar All-Atlantic Region honors as an athlete ... Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report rated him the No. 70 player in Mid-Atlantic Region ... Picked the No. 23 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep and No. 22 in the state by The Roanoke Times ... Named All-Southeastern District at QB as a junior and senior ... Gained second-team all-region honors following his senior season ... Also competed in track ... Finished third in the state in the long jump as a junior and second as a senior ...

Personal: Chris Arron Clifton ... Born 10/27/82 in Portsmouth, VA ... Son of Cheryl Clifton ... Enrolled in university studies.

- INTEGRITY - SERVICE - HONOR - EXCELLENCE - STRONG TOGETHER