Nov. 11, 2014
Georgia Tech Hall of Fame defensive back Willie Clay, who played eight NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, is Saturday’s Honorary Captain for the Yellow Jackets’ home finale.
Clay was a four-year letterwinner (1988-91) and team captain in 1991 for the Yellow Jackets, tying the single-season school record for interceptions with nine as a senior. He concluded his time on the Flats as Tech’s all-time leader with 16 interceptions. He ranks third in Tech history with 723 career punt return yards, more than half of which came as a senior in 1991 (431). He returned a punt 61 yards for a TD against North Carolina in 1991.
A two-time first-team All-ACC performer (1990, 1991), he was a semifinalist for the 1991 Jim Thorpe Award and was a second-team All-America selection as a senior.
He was taken in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Clay tallied 11 interceptions in four seasons with the Lions (1992-95), including a career-high eight in 1995. He later spent three seasons with the New England Patriots (1996-98), where he was a member of the Super Bowl XXXI team. His final NFL season came in 1999 with the New Orleans Saints.
Clay finished his NFL career with 27 interceptions and four TDs (two interception returns, two fumble returns). He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 2002.
Georgia Tech (8-2, 5-2), who has won three straight games, hosts No. 17 Clemson (7-2, 6-1) for its home finale Saturday at noon on ESPN. Great seats for the Tech/Clemson game are still available, including a limited number of lower level seats. To purchase tickets to the game, fans can purchase online at http://buzz.gt/CLEMvsGTtix or by calling 1-888-TECH-TIX. For more information on the Rivalry Weekend slate of events at Bobby Dodd Stadium, visit http://buzz.gt/RivalryWeekend.
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