Interview: 2019 JSerra Catholic LB Victor Clanton Previews No. 3 Mater Dei Showdown

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWright

Life in the Trinity League is barbarous at the minimum with one ferocious team after another. Reigning national high school football champions Mater Dei (6-2) just tangled with then- No. 2 nationally ranked St. John Bosco losing 41-18 and now must play No. 5 JSerra Catholic in back-to-back games. The Lions are balanced on offense and merciless on defense only allowing 19 points per game on average having played their own very tough schedule lining up against Calabasas, Bishop Amat, Pinnacle (AZ), Faith Lutheran (NV), the same St. John Bosco team losing by just seven points (35-28), and Orange Lutheran. One of the leaders on the Lions harsh defense ready to give the Monarchs a two-game losing streak is Class of 2019 linebacker Victor Clanton.

Clanton is a true all-purpose defender for the Lions able to play outside linebacker and weakside end with a knack at making big lumbering offensive tackles look silly with his speed and quickness around the end. Through stats posted for eight games, Clanton has tallied 49 tackles, 35 solo, 13 tackles for a loss, five sacks, and nine QB hurries with four passes broken up. The 5-11, 220-pound, is finally starting to be recognized along the recruiting trail with interest coming in from Nevada and UTEP.

In a Recruiting News Guru mid-season catch-up interview, I sat down with Clanton before the big Mater Dei showdown for a season rundown and a game preview.

*Click link for Sept. 30, 2018, RNG interview with Victor Clanton

Interview

Vic, you’ve been tearing it up all season, especially over the last few games when going against Trinity League competition. Are you doing something differently to bump up the production?

“Yeah. In practice I have really been focused on my pass rushing moves, working my feet, and using my leverage against linemen. That is coming through in games. I believe that I am stepping up my game against Trinity League teams.

For the entirety of the year, where are you seeing the biggest growth in your game?

“Definitely with my speed and my awareness. I am around the ball a lot more, even more than the beginning of the year. I am quicker this year with better instincts and I am putting myself in the right positions to make plays.”

How are you being utilized on defense this season?

“I give my team the option to send me into the backfield to rush the pass or to drop back into coverage. I shake up what I am doing, sometimes I drop back to mess with the offensive line to give our team an advantage against the pass. I had a couple of deflections last game; it is working.”

You guys just beat a very talented offensive team in Orange Lutheran (56-21), how did that game go for you?

“I did well. I put a lot of pressure on Ryan (Hilinski), he’s a very good QB. One of my pressures forced a pick. I was going back and forth from end to linebacker against Orange Lutheran. Their offensive line wasn’t sure where I would be, I kept giving them different looks. They did an onside kick against us, I returned it to the 15-yard line.”

Nice. You get another very tough team in Mater Dei on Friday, what are you expecting from their offense?

“We expect them to do the same as a lot of the offenses we have seen all year; mix up the pass and the run. We know we can handle it. We just have to do our jobs to get the win.”

I know a lot of the Trinity League guys know one another, is there any fun pre-game talking go on with you and any of the Mater Dei players?

“Actually, no. It has been humble on both sides. It has been clean. During the season we do not talk the much. I’ve known Glenn Harper (running back) all my life, we’re not talking trash about the game to one another.”

Vic, great catching up with you today and good luck against Mater Dei on Friday.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Victor Clanton