Joey Clinkscales

Last updated

Joey Clinkscales
Personal information
Born: (1964-05-21) May 21, 1964 (age 60)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school: Knoxville (TN) Austin-East
College: Tennessee
Position: Wide receiver
NFL draft: 1987  / Round: 9 / Pick: 233
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As an executive:
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:13
Receiving yards:240
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at PFR

William Joseph Clinkscales (born May 21, 1964) is an American football executive and former player who recently served as the director of player personnel for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL. Clinkscales was previously the director of player personnel for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He has worked for the New York Jets from 1994 to 2012, rising to Vice President of College Scouting during his final four years with the team. A former wide receiver, he was drafted in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in the NFL for two seasons, initially with the Steelers, and then with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Contents

Clinkscales played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the 1985 "Sugar Vols" squad, and was a captain of the 1986 team. [1] [2]

Early life

Clinkscales was born in Asheville, North Carolina. [3] He attended Austin-East High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was a teammate of future NFL players Reggie McKenzie and Raleigh McKenzie. [4] A dual-threat quarterback, he passed for 1,059 yards and ran for 900 to win All-South and All-State honors during his senior season. He also played basketball, averaging 14 points and 6 assists per game. He was ranked the number two recruit in the state of Tennessee by the Knoxville News Sentinel . [5]

Playing career

College

Clinkscales played college football at the University of Tennessee from 1982 to 1986. He converted to wide receiver during his first year, deferring the quarterback position to highly talented fellow signee Tony Robinson. [6] Clinkscales played during an era when Tennessee garnered a reputation as "Wide Receiver U." Five of Clinkscales's teammates in the Vol receiving corps— Anthony Hancock, Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, and Anthony Miller— would become first-round NFL draft picks. [7] In spite of the stiff competition for playing time, Clinkscales caught 68 passes for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns during his college career. [8]

While learning to play wide receiver, Clinkscales redshirted in 1982 and played sparingly in 1983. [9] During the 1984 season, however, he worked his way into the starting lineup. Although he was twice injured and missed several games, he managed 9 catches for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading the team in yards-per-catch with 17.8. In the Vols' 43–30 loss to Florida, Clinkscales made an athletic 48-yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter to pull the team to within a score. He also had a 14-yard touchdown catch in the Vols' 29–10 loss to Auburn, and an 8-yard touchdown reception in the team's 28–27 win over Alabama. [10] [11]

During Tennessee's memorable 1985 season, Clinkscales caught 22 passes for 434 yards and 4 touchdowns. [12] In the season opener against UCLA, he caught 4 passes for 106 yards, [13] including a 68-yard touchdown that would be the 1985 team's longest play from scrimmage. [14] He had a 10-yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter of the Vols' 38–20 victory over Auburn, and his 9-yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter against Wake Forest helped the Vols escape with a 31–29 win. [15] In Tennessee's 17–10 loss to Florida, Clinkscales caught 7 passes for 101 yards, [12] much of which came on a 65-yard reception that set up the Vols' only touchdown. [16] He caught two short passes in Tennessee's 1986 Sugar Bowl victory, [12] including a key third-down conversion on the Vols' first scoring drive.

Clinkscales was Tennessee's leading returning receiver for the 1986 season, and was named a team captain. [17] Starting alongside rising star Anthony Miller, he registered a team-leading 37 catches for 511 yards and 3 touchdowns. [18] He had seven catches in the opener against New Mexico, [19] and caught 5 passes for 63 yards in the Vols' 14–13 loss to Georgia Tech. [20] In a key game against Ole Miss late in the season, Clinkscales caught 6 passes for 92 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception in the 4th quarter that gave the Vols the lead. [21] In Tennessee's 21–14 win over Minnesota in the 1986 Liberty Bowl, Clinkscales caught 7 passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. [22]

National Football League

Pittsburgh Steelers

Clinkscales was drafted in the ninth round of the 1987 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 233rd overall pick. [23] One reason he was not selected earlier in the draft was his lack of speed, as his time of 4.55–4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash was considered slow for an NFL receiver. [24] Kippy Brown, Tennessee's wide receivers coach, stated, "Pittsburgh's got a steal." He dismissed concerns over Clinkscales' speed, arguing, "In a clutch situation, I'd take Clinkscales over anybody I've coached." [24] Steelers offensive coordinator Tom Moore noted that Clinkscales had "a tremendous amount of quickness and concentration and ball judgment." [24]

Although Clinkscales performed well in the Steelers' 1987 training camp, he fell behind after suffering a leg injury, and was cut after the first preseason game. [25] He re-signed with the team during the players' strike that year, however. He delivered his best performance in the Steelers' game against Atlanta, which was played primarily with replacement players, catching six passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, and drawing praise from legendary Steelers coach Chuck Noll. [26] One week later against the Rams, however, he had just one catch for 17 yards. [27] After the strike had ended, he remained in the lineup as a reserve. Following an injury to veteran John Stallworth, Clinkscales received considerable playing time in the game against Cincinnati, catching 4 passes for 51 yards. [25] He was waived by the Steelers in October 1988. [28]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Clinkscales signed briefly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after leaving the Steelers, [29] but was waived after just a few weeks. He signed as a free agent with Indianapolis and later with Cleveland, but was unable to make either roster. [30] [31]

Executive career

Clinkscales initially worked for the Steelers as a part-time scout in the early 1990s, and joined the New York Jets in 1994 as a full-time scout. [32] [33] He was elevated to national scout for the Jets in 2002. [34] In 2006, he was promoted to Director of College Scouting. Two years later, he was named Vice President of College Scouting. [35] In late 2007, he was interviewed by Bill Parcells for the vacant Miami Dolphins general manager position. In 2012, he was among the candidates interviewed for the St. Louis Rams general manager position. [36] [37]

In May 2012, the Oakland Raiders hired Clinkscales as Director of Player Personnel. This move reunited Clinkscales with his old high school and college teammate, Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie. [38] He was fired in January 2019, shortly after McKenzie was fired. [39]

In May 2019, Clinkscales was named director of player personnel for the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL. [40]

In June 2022, Clinkscales was named director of player personnel for the planned Las Vegas XFL team, [41] which was named the Vegas Vipers in September. On January 1, 2024, it was announced the Vipers would not be a part of the UFL Merger. [42]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hines Ward</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Hines Edward Ward Jr. is an American football coach and former player who is the wide receivers coach for Arizona State. He played as a wide receiver in the NFL after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff Branch</span> American football player (1948–2019)

Clifford Branch Jr. was an American professional football wide receiver who played for the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders during his entire 14-year National Football League (NFL) career. He won three NFL championships with the Raiders in Super Bowl XI, XV, and XVIII. He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 1972 NFL draft after playing college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. He was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Gault</span> American football player (born 1960)

Willie James Gault is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. Considered one of the fastest NFL players of all-time, Gault was a member of the Bears team that won Super Bowl XX. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team that boycotted the 1980 Olympics.

Stanley Douglas Morgan is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. A "deep threat" receiver, he holds the NFL record with 19.2 yards per catch, and also holds the Patriots team record for total receiving yards in a career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerricho Cotchery</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Jerricho Cotchery is an American football coach and former wide receiver. He is the head football coach for Limestone University, a position he has held since 2024. He played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers from 2004 to 2015. He played college football for North Carolina State University.

Timothy Dwayne Hatchett McGee is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins from 1986 to 1994. Before his NFL career, he played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he set school career records for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions, and was named an All American his senior year.

Lawrence Anthony Miller is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.

Kevin Swayne is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League (AFL). In the past, he had played for Wayne State College, the Iowa Barnstormers (AFL), the Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, New York Jets (NFL) and the Orlando Rage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kippy Brown</span> American football player and coach (born 1955)

Charles Henry "Kippy" Brown is an American football former coach and former player who most recently was the wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was a college-level starting quarterback for Memphis and coached in various capacities at both the college and professional levels of American football. He retired in May 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Hancock (American football)</span> American football player (born 1960)

Anthony Duane Hancock is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). A first-round draft pick in the 1982 NFL draft, he played for five seasons with the Chiefs, retiring following the 1986 season. He played college football at the Tennessee Volunteers, leading the school in receiving in three consecutive seasons (1979–1981).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Hunter</span> American football player (born 1991)

Justin Parker Hunter is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Hunter was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefon Diggs</span> American football player (born 1993)

Stefon Marsean Diggs is an American professional football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Boyd (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tyler Alexander Boyd is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martavis Bryant</span> American football player (born 1991)

Martavis Alexander Bryant is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. Bryant has also been a member of the NFL's Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders, the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League (IFL), the Beasts of Fan Controlled Football (FCF), and the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eli Rogers</span> American football player (born 1992)

Eli Lamar Rogers is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Davis (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1995)

Corey Damon Davis is an American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos, where he became the NCAA Division I FBS leader in career receiving yards. He was selected by the Tennessee Titans fifth overall in the 2017 NFL draft, where he played for four seasons before signing with the New York Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Malone</span> American football player (born 1996)

Joshua Khiry Malone is an [American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) and the DC Defenders of the XFL.

Saeed Raashad Blacknall is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mecole Hardman</span> American football player (born 1998)

Carey Mecole Hardman Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He has won Super Bowl LIV, Super Bowl LVII, and Super Bowl LVIII with the Chiefs. In Super Bowl LVIII, Hardman scored the game-winning walk-off touchdown in overtime. Hardman has also briefly played for the New York Jets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Pickens</span> American football player (born 2001)

George Malik Pickens Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Patrick (October 14, 2018). "Georgia WR, former teammate of Vols QB set to visit Tennessee". 247Sports. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Lentz, Andrew (June 15, 2017). "Clinkscales & McKenzie Added To Oakland Raiders Staff". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Raiders Restructure Player Personnel Dept". Las Vegas Raiders. May 15, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  4. ↑ Gehlken, Michael (September 16, 2017). "Raiders executive Joey Clinkscales sees path to rebuilding franchise". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  5. ↑ "1982 Tennessee Signees Archived November 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ," 1982 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program (University of Tennessee, 1982), p. 61.
  6. ↑ David Keirn, "Color Doesn't Count; UT's Black Quarterbacks Have Left Giant Tracks Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine ," Knoxnews.com, 2002. Retrieved: July 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ Strange, Mike (September 30, 2012). "Vols were Sugar sweet". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ Tennessee Career Football Statistics Archived September 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , UTSports.com. Retrieved: July 9, 2013.
  9. ↑ 1984 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived August 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (University of Tennessee, 1984), p. 45.
  10. ↑ Woodard, Jeff (September 29, 1984). "Auburn 29, Tennessee 10". UPI. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  11. ↑ Maltby, Jack (October 20, 1984). "Johnnie Jones scored on a 1-yard run and quarterback Tony Robinson dived into the end zone for a two-point conversion with 2:09 left Saturday to lift Tennessee to a 28-27 victory over Alabama". UPI. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 1986 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived February 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (University of Tennessee, 1986), pp. 59–60.
  13. ↑ UCLA Bruins at Tennessee Volunteers (September 14, 1985) Archived February 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , College Football Belt. Retrieved: July 10, 2013.
  14. ↑ 1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , p. 105.
  15. ↑ 1986 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived February 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (University of Tennessee, 1986), p. 100.
  16. ↑ McClung, Chuck (October 13, 1985). "GATORS KEEP TABS ON TONY DEFENSE NEUTRALIZES VOLS' DANGEROUS QB". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  17. ↑ Woodbery, Evan (April 28, 2013). "Tyler Bray shut out at NFL draft, but Mychal Rivera lands with home-state team". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  18. ↑ 1987 Tennessee Volunteers Football Program Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (University of Tennessee, 1987), p. 105.
  19. ↑ "Vols Down Lobos in Season Opener Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine ," UT vs. Mississippi State Football Program (University of Tennessee, September 13, 1986), p. 80. Retrieved: July 10, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Tech Slips Past Vols Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine ," UT vs. Memphis Football Program (University of Tennessee, November 8, 1986), p. 80. Retrieved: July 10, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Vols Overpower Mississippi". University of Tennessee. November 22, 1986. p. 80. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  22. ↑ "LIBERTY BOWL DRAMA CAPS TENNESSEE YEAR". Chicago Tribune. December 31, 1986. Retrieved March 5, 2024– via Scripps Howard News Service.
  23. ↑ "1987 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 "Tennessee Receiver Could Be a Big Catch for the Steelers". Los Angeles Times. August 16, 1987. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  25. 1 2 Rose, Tom (November 27, 1987). "Steelers' Clinkscales Can Hang On". Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter. p. B-6. Retrieved March 4, 2024– via Google News.
  26. ↑ Kozora, Alex (August 8, 2020). "Next Man Up: WR Joey Clinkscales (1987)". Steelers Depot. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  27. ↑ Tuma, Gary (October 12, 1987). "Yesterday's Heroes Become Goats Against Rams". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 22. Retrieved March 4, 2024– via Google News.
  28. ↑ Rose, Gary (October 8, 1988). "Blackledge to Start Against Cardinals". Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter. p. B-2. Retrieved March 4, 2024– via Google News.
  29. ↑ "FOR THE RECORD". Washington Post. October 18, 1988. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Browns". Gainesville Sun. August 23, 1990. p. 3C. Retrieved March 4, 2024– via Google News.
  31. ↑ "DEALS". USA Today. August 25, 1989. p. 9-C. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015 – via ProQuest Archiver.
  32. ↑ Mitchell, Mike (February 18, 2023). "34 former NY Jets who are part of the XFL in 2023". The Jet Press. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  33. ↑ Jones, Dave (June 5, 2002). "Jets shake up scouting staff". 247sports.com. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  34. ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (June 5, 2002). "Kaye Takes Over Jets' College Scouting". New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Raiders Reportedly Add Jets VP Of College Scouting Joey Clinkscales". CBS - New York. May 9, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2024– via WFAN.
  36. ↑ Vrentas, Jenny (February 11, 2012). "Jets VP of college scouting Joey Clinkscales out of running for St. Louis Rams GM job". NJ.com. Retrieved March 4, 2024– via The Star-Ledger.
  37. ↑ Mehta, Manish (January 10, 2012). "Source: Jets VP of College Scouting Joey Clinkscales to interview for Rams GM job". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Raiders add Joey Clinkscales as director of player personnel". NFL.com. May 11, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  39. ↑ Bair, Scott (January 3, 2019). "Source: Raiders fire director of player personnel Joey Clinkscales". NBC Sports - Bay Area & California. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  40. ↑ "XFL L.A. Adds Director of Football Ops And Player Personnel". XFL News Hub. May 29, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  41. ↑ Rachuk, Stephan (June 9, 2022). "XFL Hires Directors of Player Personnel for 2023 Return". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  42. ↑ Alexander, Mookie (December 31, 2023). "Report: RIP, Seattle Sea Dragons?!". Field Gulls. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.