JONESBORO, Ark. (7/14/17) – Arkansas State junior defensive back Justin Clifton has been named to the 2017 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation's best defensive back.
Clifton was a Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference for the Red Wolves in 2016 where he recorded a career-high 87 tackles, the second most on the team. He ranked 20th in the Sun Belt in tackles with 6.7 per game and finished the year with a career-best eight tackles for loss. He had two interceptions, both against Troy as A-State defeated the nationally-ranked Trojans. He also added five pass-breakups throughout the year, while his seven passes defended tied for the 14th most in the league.