Kellen Clemens

Kellen Clemens

refer to caption

Clemens in 2016
No. 10 San Diego Chargers
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1983-06-06) June 6, 1983
Place of birth: Burns, Oregon
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight: 221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: Burns (OR)
College: Oregon
NFL Draft: 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Passing attempts: 629
Passing completions: 344
Percentage: 54.7
TD–INT: 16–20
Passing yards: 4,017
Passer rating: 69.5
Player stats at NFL.com

Kellen Vincent Clemens[1] (born June 6, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the 49th overall pick; he played collegiately at Oregon.

He has also been a member of the Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, and St. Louis Rams.

Early years

Born and raised in Burns in eastern Oregon, Clemens played high school football for the Burns Hilanders and led them to the Oregon state 3A championship game in 1999.[2] In his high school career he threw for a state-record 8,646 yards (610-of-1,112) and 102 TD. He also received USA Today All-American honors and Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year while in high school, where he completed 218 of 395 passes for 3,464 yards (3,167 m) and 37 TD with 325 rushing yards and 15 TD in his senior season. He was coached by Terry Graham using the run and shoot offense.

College career

Clemens played college football at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He assumed the role of starting QB in all 13 games in 2003 and responded by throwing for more TD passes and yards than any sophomore in school history, surpassing Dan Fouts—who had 16 TDs and 2390 yards, in 1970. Clemens posted three rushing TD, three passing TD and a career-best 437 passing yards in a road victory over Washington State as a junior. As a senior in 2005, he broke his ankle while playing against Arizona. Despite missing remaining three games of the season, Clemens finished 2005 with 2,406 passing yards, 19 TDs, 4 interceptions, and a 152.87 passer efficiency rating. He finished his Oregon career with 7,555 passing yards.

Statistics

Year Team Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2002 Oregon 23 40 57.5 201 5.0 2 1 111.2 8 9 1.1 0
2003 Oregon 182 304 59.9 2,400 7.9 18 9 139.8 78 108 1.4 2
2004 Oregon 223 372 59.9 2,548 6.8 22 10 131.6 118 190 1.6 4
2005 Oregon 185 289 64.0 2,406 8.3 19 4 152.9 69 228 3.3 0
Career 613 1,005 61.0 7,555 7.5 61 24 139.4 273 535 2.0 6

Source:[3]

Professional career

New York Jets

Clemens with the Jets during the 2009 preseason.

Clemens was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the 49th overall pick, to serve as the secondary quarterback to Chad Pennington. A healthy Pennington resulted in little playing time for Clemens in 2006. He entered in a Game 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, rushed once for 8 yards but did not attempt a pass. He then made NFL debut in relief appearance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording his first career pass attempt and rushing once for 2 yards. He recorded only two attempts and 0 completions in his rookie season. Due to an injury to Chad Pennington in the Jets's 2007 season opener against the New England Patriots, Clemens recorded his first completed pass in the NFL with a final record for the day of five complete passes on ten attempts.

Clemens made his first career start in Week 2 of the 2007 season. His effectiveness was minimized by the Ravens's defense for the first three quarters, with the Jets trailing 20-3 at one point. However, in the fourth quarter, Clemens led the Jets on a scoring drive that cut Baltimore's lead to 20-13. On the last drive, he attempted what would have been a game-tying touchdown pass to Jets wide receiver Justin McCareins, but the pass was dropped by McCareins and intercepted by the Ravens' Ray Lewis.

His next appearance came in week 8 against the Buffalo Bills. A struggling Pennington was pulled by head coach Eric Mangini in the middle of the fourth quarter and replaced by Clemens. Clemens led two drives against the Buffalo defense. Down 13-3 and pressed for time, Clemens attempted to quickly move the Jets offense down the field but was intercepted twice. The following day, on October 29, 2007, Clemens was named the starting quarterback for the next game against the Washington Redskins.

Clemens with the Redkins

In 2008, Clemens was only on the field to attempt five passes as the backup to Brett Favre. When Mike Nugent, the Jets's kicker, injured his thigh in the September 7th game against the Miami Dolphins, Clemens filled in as the team's placekicker, but was not called upon to kick.

On August 26, 2009, Jet's head coach Rex Ryan announced that Mark Sanchez would be the starting quarterback for the 2009 season, a position left vacant after Brett Favre was released from the Jets in February.[4] On December 3, Clemens was forced to come in against the Buffalo Bills after Mark Sanchez sprained his PCL.[5] Clemens started the Jets's next game against the 1-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite an unexceptional personal performance by Clemens, the Jets were still able to pick up an important 26-3 victory.

Clemens threw for 125 yards with no touchdowns in 2009 and played mostly when Mark Sanchez was injured. He was re-signed to a one-year contract for the 2010 season on April 13,[6] but the only action he saw was in the week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills.[7]

Washington Redskins

On July 27, 2011, Clemens signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins[8] where he competed for a backup role during the 2011 preseason, but was released on September 3.[9]

Houston Texans

Clemens with the Rams during the 2013 preseason

Clemens was signed by the Houston Texans on November 23, 2011 after starting quarterback Matt Schaub was placed on injured reserve.[10] He was waived two weeks later on December 6, in order for the Texans to sign Jeff Garcia.[11]

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams claimed Clemens off of waivers from Houston the following day, on December 7.[12]

After an ankle sprain sidelined starting quarterback Sam Bradford and with backup A.J. Feeley out with a thumb injury, Clemens started on December 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. With only 11 days to get familiar with the team and the offense Clemens passed for 229 yards completing 25 of 36 passes. In that game, he completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Danario Alexander, his first NFL touchdown pass since 2007 with the Jets, but the Bengals won, 20-13. Clemens started the final two games for the Rams, both losses to the Steelers and rival 49ers. He finished the 2011 season with 2 touchdown passes and 1 rushing touchdown, and was re-signed by the Rams.

After Bradford went down with a season-ending injury in week 7 in 2013, Clemens started the final nine games, going 4-5 as the Rams' starter and finished with 1,673 yards, 8 TD's, and 7 INT's.

San Diego Chargers

In 2014, Clemens signed with the San Diego Chargers on March 13.[13]

Statistics

Clemens in 2016
Year Team GP GS Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2006 NYJ 2 0 0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 39.6 2 10 5.0 0
2007 NYJ 10 8 130 250 52.0 1,529 6.1 5 10 60.9 27 111 4.1 1
2008 NYJ 2 0 3 5 60.0 26 5.2 0 1 34.2 3 -3 -1.0 0
2009 NYJ 10 1 13 26 50.0 125 4.8 0 0 63.8 12 1 0.1 0
2010 NYJ 1 0 1 2 50.0 6 3.0 0 0 56.2 2 9 4.5 1
2011 STL 3 3 48 91 52.7 546 6.0 2 1 73.8 6 37 6.2 1
2012 STL 2 0 1 3 33.3 39 13.0 0 1 42.4 2 5 2.5 0
2013 STL 10 9 142 242 58.7 1,673 6.9 8 7 78.8 23 64 2.8 0
2014 SD 2 0 1 3 33.3 10 3.3 0 0 43.8 0 0 0.0 0
2015 SD 2 0 5 6 83.3 63 10.5 1 0 150.0 1 -1 -1.0 0
2016 SD 1 0 0 1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 39.6 2 -1 -0.5 0
Career 45 21 344 630 54.6 4,017 6.4 16 20 69.4 80 232 2.9 3

Source:[14]

Personal life

A distant relative of pitcher Roger Clemens, Clemens is a sixth generation cattle rancher; he grew up herding cattle in eastern Oregon on his family's 3,500-acre (14 km2) ranch in Burns, where they own over 100 head of cattle.[15] In his spare time, Kellen enjoys horseback riding.[16]

Clemens is an active and practicing Roman Catholic, and is married with two children with a strong religious devotion to the Holy Family of Nazareth. In a February 2012 interview with the National Catholic Register, he noted that his patron saint is Saint Sebastian and has special religious devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He also noted that he wears the Brown Scapular in connection to this religious faith. Furthermore, Clemens claimed, "You have to vote for the candidate who is most pro-life," and said he voted for Mitt Romney in 2012.[17]

Clemens has four sisters, and a half brother, and majored in Business Administration at the University of Oregon. His half brother Chris Anderson (Clemens) played professional baseball in the New York Yankees organization. Earning International League All Star recognition in 1998[2] Clemens is an active member of Catholic Athletes for Christ.[18] He and his wife Nicole reside in Whippany, New Jersey. Clemens also expressed a feeling of deep honour when Pope Benedict XVI blessed and kissed their four-week-old baby girl at the final procession of the Papal Mass on April 17, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.[19] Clemens, in appreciation for the blessing, gave Pope Benedict his autograph by signing his mitre.

References

  1. ↑ "Kellen Clemens NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  2. 1 2 "Kellen Clemens". University of Oregon. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  3. ↑ "Kellen Clemens". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Sanchez to start at QB for Jets". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  5. ↑ Cannizzaro, Mark (December 9, 2009). "Rex irked as Sanchez hurts knee on Dive". New York Post. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  6. ↑ Smith, Michael David (April 13, 2010). "Kellen Clemens signs his tender". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  7. ↑ "Kellen Clemens Game By Game Stats and Performance - St. Louis Rams - ESPN". ESPN. 1983-06-07. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  8. ↑ "Redskins add Kellen Clemens". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  9. ↑ Jones, Mike; Maese, Rick (September 3, 2011). "Redskins cut running backs Evan Royster, Shaun Draughn". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  10. ↑ Klemko, Robert (November 23, 2011). "Texans place Matt Schaub on IR, sign Clemens". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  11. ↑ Martin, Dave (December 6, 2011). "Jeff Garcia, 41, to Sign With Texans". The Epoch Times. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ Van Bibber, Ryan (December 7, 2011). "Rams Claim QB Kellen Clemens Off Waivers; Jacob Bell to IR". Turf Show Times. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ Kellen Clemens, Chargers Agree to Two-Year Deal
  14. ↑ "Kellen Clemens". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  15. ↑ Crouse, Karen (2007-09-16). "Covering New Ground, Jets' Clemens Relies on Deep Roots". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  16. ↑ "Kellen Clemens - NFL Players". NFL Players. 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  17. ↑ Beattie, Trent. "St. Louis Rams' Quarterback Is 'Catholic by Blood' | Daily News". NCRegister.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  18. ↑ "Catholic Athletes For Christ". Catholic Athletes For Christ. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  19. ↑ "Jets' Clemens tears up after Pope kisses, blesses infant daughter". ESPN.com. April 17, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
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