Class 2010: Clayton Vis strives to be golden at University of Alberta

Today, CFC shines the spotlight on Class 2010 star lineman and recent University of Alberta commit, Clayton Vis. Clayton hails from Airdrie, Alberta.

Clayton Vis

Positions:
Defensive/Offensive Lineman

Height/Weight:
6’2, 225 lbs

Teams:
Vancouver Island Raiders (BCFC)
George McDougall Mustangs (high school: RVFL)
Northern Raiders (midget: CMFA)

Commitment:
Commitment to University of Alberta

Class:
2010

When he started his football career in Airdrie, Clayton played for the Northern Raiders of the Calgary Midget Football Association. During his time with the Raiders, he played on the offensive line. In his last season with the team, the lineman was named a league all-star.

The most memorable football experience for the Albertan football star took place in his first year of bantam in grade nine.

“I was put on the defensive line for my first few weeks, probably because it’s the one of the easier positions to learn for someone that is new to sports,” explains Clayton. “Halfway through the season, one of our offensive linemen got ejected from the game so our line coach sent me in.”

“I think this is definitely when the struggle between playing offensive and defensive line began in my football career because I had never been coached on how to play offensive line so the first thing I did was basically pick up the defensive end and I threw him. I got flagged for holding of course.”

Clayton’s greatest success came during his high school career with the George McDougall Mustangs of the Rocky View Football League (RVFL). The standout showed his versatility as a player on both the offensive and defensive line. For his exceptional play on the field, Clayton was team defensive lineman of the year in grades 11 and 12. Moreover, the Mustangs lineman was league defensive lineman in his senior year.

Once he graduated from high school in 2010, Clayton made the move from Airdire to Nanaimo, British Columbia. Subsequently, he suited up for the Vancouver Island Raiders of the British Columbia Football Conference (BCFC). In 2011, the lineman stared in three games on the defensive unit of the Raiders.
Next season, the Raiders lineman will make the move back home as he’s recently committed to the University of Alberta.

“My initial plan while going to play junior was only to play the two years, as to not waste CIS eligibility and to try and avoid red-shirting,” comments the future Golden Bears who will pursue a degree in commerce with a major in accounting at the school. “My decision to go to University of Alberta was completely unrelated to football as I’m gay and my boyfriend does go to University of Alberta.”

The main football influence on Clayton’s football career has been midget offensive line coach, Stephen Kemp. The Raiders standout says Kemp has played a key role in his development into an effective lineman but has also fueled a passion to give back to the sport.

“He was the reason I decided to go out to Nanaimo and play junior ball before trying CIS, since he also played in Nanaimo finishing his junior career two years before I began mine,” adds Clayton. “He was the one who pretty much taught me everything I know about football.”

“I now coach the offensive line for him as he is the head coach now.”

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