Kellen Clemens (born June 6, 1983 in Lakeview, Oregon) is an American football quarterback who currently plays and is competing for the starting job for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jets in the second round (49th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Oregon.
[edit] Early years
He played high school football for the Burns Hilanders and led them to the Oregon state 3A championship game in 1999.[1] 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. Coached by Terry Graham using the run n' shoot offense
[edit] College career
Clemens played college football at the University of Oregon. 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 TD, 2,390 yards (2,190 m), in 1970). He posted three rushing TD, three passing TD and a career-best 437 passing yards in a road victory over Washington State as a junior. He was a senior during the 2005 season, and was pursuing several school records until he broke his ankle while playing a game at Arizona. He would miss the remaining three games of the season. Still, he finished 2005 with 2,406 passing yards, 19 TDs, only 4 interceptions, and a 152.87 passer efficiency rating. He finished his Oregon career with 7,555 passing yards.
[edit] NFL career
Clemens was selected by the Jets 49th overall in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft 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' 2007-2008 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. Clemens' effectiveness was minimized by the Ravens' 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, Clemens attempted what would have been a game-tying touchdown pass to Jets wide receiver Justin McCareins, but the pass was dropped by McCareins instead of caught, and was then intercepted by the Ravens' Ray Lewis.
His next appearance would come in the Jets' Week 8 match-up 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 earned his first career win on November 18th in an overtime game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He led the Jets to a 3-5 record as a starter.
Clemens is currently in a competition with the Jets first round pick Mark Sanchez for the starting Quarterback position now that Brett Favre was released from the Jets in February. When Mike Nugent, the Jets' kicker, injured his thigh, Clemens became the placekicker of the game against the Dolphins, but never made a kick.
[edit] Personal life
Kellen is a sixth generation cattle rancher. He grew up herding cattle on his family's 3,500-acre (14 km2) ranch in Burns, Oregon, where they own over 100 head of cattle.[2] In his spare time, Kellen enjoys horseback riding.[3]
Clemens has four sisters and majored in Business Administration at the University of Oregon.[4] Clemens is an active member of Catholic Athletes for Christ. He is married to Nicole; they reside in Whippany, NJ. Their family received an unexpected blessing when Pope Benedict 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.. As a show of appreciation, Kellen Clemens signed Pope Benedict's mitre.
[edit] References
