Clayton Fejedelem
{{Short description|American football player (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Clayton Fejedelem
| image = Clayton Fejedelem.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Fejedelem with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|06|02|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Lemont, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 202
| high_school = Lemont (IL)
| college = Saint Xavier (2011–2012)
Illinois (2013–2015)
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 245
| pastteams =
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2015)
| status =
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 146
| statlabel2 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue2 = 2
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 3
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 = 3
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 1
| pfr = FejeCl00
}}
Clayton Fejedelem ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɛ|dʒ|ə|l|ə|m}} {{respell|FEDGE|ə|ləm}};{{Cite web |title= Player Name Pronunciations |url=https://media.miamidolphins.com/player-name-pronunciations/ |access-date=August 21, 2022 |website=MiamiDolphins.com}} born June 2, 1993) is an American professional football safety and special teamer. He played college football at Saint Xavier and Illinois, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Early life
A native of Illinois, Clayton Fejedelem attended Lemont High School in Lemont, Illinois where he lettered in football, wrestling, and lacrosse. Fejedelem was a two-time All-Conference selection in football for the Lemont Indians, and earned All-State honors in football as a senior in 2010.{{Cite news |url=http://www.lhs210.net/news/default.aspx?ArticleId=449 |title=Lemont's Fejedelem, Lombardo to play football at St. Xavier University |work=Lemont High School |access-date=November 19, 2018 |language=en}} That same year, he also earned South Suburban Blue Player of the Year honors.{{Cite web|title=Clayton Fejedelem - 2015 - Football|url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/football/roster/clayton-fejedelem/2187|access-date=2021-08-29|website=University of Illinois Athletics|language=en}}
College career
= Saint Xavier University =
Fejedelem played two seasons at NAIA Saint Xavier University from 2011 to 2012.{{Cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-clayton-fejedelem-illinois-football-spt-0910-20150909-story.html |title=Clayton Fejedelem's confidence never wavered on road from NAIA to Big Ten |last=Ryan |first=Shannon |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=October 3, 2018 |language=en-US}} In 2011, he recorded 68 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss, five interceptions, a team-high nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one pick-six touchdown. Clayton was named St. Xavier Newcomer of the Year in 2011 after helping the Cougars to the NAIA Championship and 14–1 record. He led SXU to an 11–2 record in 2012, racking up 87 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, 3 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries to earn second-team All-Mid-State Football Association honors.
= University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign =
Fejedelem redshirted his junior season at Illinois in 2013 after joining the team as a walk-on during spring practices, but had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. In 2014, he recorded his first tackle as an Illini against Western Kentucky and went on to tally 51 tackles, a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery on the season. He played in all 13 games, including one start at Northwestern University where he recorded a career-high of 12 tackles and one pass breakup. In 2015, Clayton started all 12 games at free safety, going on to record a team-best 140 tackles (fifth in the nation at 11.7 tackles per game), 4.5 tackles-for-loss, second pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He was the Illini team captain and Defensive Player of the Year, earning him an All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention selection by the coaches and All-Big Ten second-team selection by the media.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 7/8
| weight = 204
| dash = 4.54
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.62
| shuttle = 4.30
| cone drill = 7.17
| vertical = 40.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| bench = 20
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 30 3/4
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = All values from Illinois Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=132923&DraftYear=2016 |title=2016 Draft Scout Clayton Fejedelem, Illinois NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=January 1, 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/49600 |title=Clayton Fejedelem 2016 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=January 1, 2023}}
}}
=Cincinnati Bengals=
Fejedelem was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round, 245th overall, in the 2016 NFL draft.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=2019-02-25}}{{cite news |title=Bengals draft Lemont graduate Clayton Fejedelem in seventh round |work=chicagotribune.com |date=May 1, 2016 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-football-bengals-clayton-fejedelem-st-0502-20160501-story.html}} In his rookie season, he appeared in all 16 games and recorded three total tackles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2016.htm |title=2016 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=October 3, 2018}} In the 2017 season, he appeared in all 16 games as a team captain and started five. He recorded one interception, two passes defensed, and 56 total tackles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/2017.htm |title=2017 Cincinnati Bengals Statistics & Players |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=October 3, 2018}} In the 2018 season, he was named a team captain, played in all 16 games and started one.. During the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, he recorded a game-clinching 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown on a drive where the Colts were threatening to score and go ahead late.{{Cite news |url=https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/archdeacon-special-teams-ace-saves-the-day-defense-for-bengals/n4WnxPN3XqkGvPbD1qUoPI/ |title=Archdeacon: Special teams ace saves the day on defense for Bengals |work=Dayton Daily News |access-date=October 3, 2018 |language=en}} In 2019, he was named a team captain and played in all 16 games.
=Miami Dolphins=
On March 20, 2020, Fejedelem signed a three-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.{{cite web|title=Dophins agree to terms with Clayton Fejedelem|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/16/dophins-agree-to-terms-with-clayton-fejedelem/|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=March 16, 2020}}{{cite news |author=Wingfield, Travis |title=Free Agent Analysis: Clayton Fejedelem |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/clayton-fejedelem-2020-nfl-free-agent-analysis |website=MiamiDolphins.com |date=March 20, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2020}} In the 2020 season, he was named special teams captain and appeared in 13 games after missing the first three due to injury. He recorded one forced fumble and 10 tackles total.{{Cite web|title=Clayton Fejedelem (DB): Bio, News, Stats & more|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/players-roster/clayton-fejedelem/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=www.miamidolphins.com|language=en-US}} Against the Las Vegas Raiders, he rushed for 22 yards on a fake punt to convert a 4th-and-1 to extend a drive that ended in a Miami touchdown.
On September 1, 2022, Fejedelem was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Dolphins make roster moves|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-make-roster-moves-x1727|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=September 1, 2022}} He was activated on October 8.{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins make roster moves|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-roster-moves-x3538|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=October 8, 2022}}
Personal life
The son of Steven and Colleen Fejedelem, Clayton has two brothers, Ryan (older) and Jeremy (younger). They were born and raised in Lemont, Illinois, a southwestern suburb of Chicago. Fejedelem attended Saint Xavier University as a business major in 2011, but transferred to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2013 where he walked on and graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications in 2015. He married Gabriele Fejedelem in Chicago, Illinois in March 2020.{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Dave|title=Miami Dolphins sign former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Clayton Fejedelem|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2020/03/16/clayton-fejedelem-miami-dolphins-sign-former-bengals-defensive-back/5065572002/|access-date=2021-08-29|website=The Enquirer|language=en-US}} The couple welcomed their son in December 2020, and a daughter in July 2022.{{Cite web |last=Tully |first=Jonathan |date=December 26, 2020 |title=Miami Dolphins safety Clayton Fejedelem has a banner week: A new son, a fake punt |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/12/26/miami-dolphins-safety-clayton-fejedelem-big-week-new-son-fake-punt/4043190001/ |access-date=2021-08-29 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://fightingillini.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2187 Illinois Fighting Illini bio]
- [https://www.sxucougars.com/roster/10/5/2146 Saint Xavier Cougars bio]
{{Bengals2016DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fejedelem, Clayton}}
Category:American football safeties
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:People from Lemont, Illinois
Category:Saint Xavier University alumni
Category:Players of American football from Cook County, Illinois
Category:Players of American football from DuPage County, Illinois