Clay Norgard

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Position:
Defensive Tackle
Height:
6-0
Weight:
265
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Highlands Ranch, Colo.
High School:
Mountain Vista

AT COLORADO: 2015 (Jr./Sr.)—He saw action in four games (no starts), and was in for 53 plays from scrimmage; he had three tackles (two solo) for the season. He had nine tackles, including a quarterback sack in the four main spring scrimmages.

2014 (Soph.)—He saw action in 11 games (all but the opener against CSU), playing 59 snaps from scrimmage. He was in on three tackles on the season, all unassisted, including a 9-yard sack he recorded against Hawai’i. Usually inserted in the game on third downs, all three of his tackles were also third down stops. He also had a quarterback pressure and a knockdown block on special teams. He moved from inside linebacker to defensive tackle during spring drills, as the coaches wanted to find a position that better suited his size and particular talents.

2013 (Fr.-RS)—He saw action in three games toward the end of the season, all on special teams (Washington, USC and Utah); he dressed for eight others. He made his presence known in that short period, recording five knockdown blocks on the kickoff return unit that helped clear a path for additional yardage. He was moved from offense (fullback) to inside linebacker prior to spring drills, and he looked good making the transition. He had five tackles (four solo, one for a loss) in the main spring scrimmages.

2012 (Fr.)—Redshirted; he was projected as a fullback upon his arrival in college and practiced there and on the scout team throughout the fall. He joined the team for spring drills, as he enrolled at CU in January after graduating from high school early.

HIGH SCHOOL—He was ranked as the No. 4 fullback in the nation by Rivals, which also listed him as the No. 7 prospect out of the state of Colorado. MaxPreps ranked him as the No. 21 inside linebacker, while Scout.com tabbed him as the No. 105 defensive end nationally and the No. 11 player overall from Colorado; EPSN ranked him as the No. 56 defensive end nationally, the No. 101 player in the Midlands, and No. 7 player from Colorado. The Denver Post tabbed him as a first-team All-Colorado and first-team 5A All-State selection both as a junior and senior, and he garnered first-team All-Centennial League accolades his sophomore through senior seasons. A three-year starter on defense, he recorded 218 tackles, including 88 for losses with 32 quarterback sacks, 19 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries over his last two seasons. He had 115 tackles as a senior, including 45 for a loss (17 sacks) while forcing 10 fumbles and recovering six. In a playoff game against Douglas County in a 18-14 victory, he recorded 15 tackles and a pair of sacks. He opened the season in a 50-7 win over Smoky Hill with 11 tackles, including nine solo. His junior season, he had 103 tackles, including 43 for a loss with 15 quarterback sacks, forcing nine fumbles and recovering four. He played defensive tackle, defensive end and both inside and outside linebacker throughout high school. Under coach Ric Cash, Mountain Vista was 4-6 his senior season, 4-6 his junior year and 7-4 his sophomore season. He also lettered three times in track and was named first-team All-State at the 5A classification by the Denver Post. He set school records in the shot put, discus and javelin.

ACADEMICS—He is majoring Economics at Colorado (and was on schedule to graduate in May 2016).

PERSONAL—He was born November 1, 1993 in The Woodlands, Texas; he is part Native American (Cherokee). His father (Erik) played center at Colorado for two years (1987-88) and was named All-Big Eight as a senior before going on to enjoy an 11-year NFL career with the Houston Oilers organization. His mother (Lisa) also attended CU. His hobbies include snowboarding and long boarding, and his favorite athlete is Clay Matthews. He lists the biggest moment of his prep career as when he earned All-Colorado honors his junior season.