Student-Athlete Features
VUCommodores.com — Clifton’s Climb to Success
VUCommodores.com — Clifton Launches Lifelong Journey of Self-Discovery
As a Graduate (2023)
• Team captain
• SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Started all 12 games
• Led the team in sacks (5.5), tackles for loss (7.5) and hurries (4)
• Made 30 tackles and grabbed an interception during the 2023 season
• Posted at least half-a-sack in four straight games against Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss and Auburn
• Made a season-high six tackles and sacked the quarterback in the game versus Auburn, fourth-consecutive game in which he has recorded a sack
• Registered his fourth sack of the season at Ole Miss
• Recorded first career interception, sacked the quarterback and was credited with a QB hurry and an assist in win over Alabama A&M
• Sacked the quarterback and recorded three solo tackles in win over Hawai’i
As a Senior (2022)
• Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Played in 11 games with 22 tackles, 4.0 for loss
• Blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt in 24-21 victory at Kentucky
• Made a season-best four tackles on three occasions, including in the Kentucky win
• Posted 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over the Wildcats
• Recorded at least one tackle in 10-of-12 games on the season
As a Junior (2021)
• Played in all 12 games with 10 starts
• 35 total tackles
• Season-best seven total tackles in win over UConn
As a Sophomore (2020)
• SEC Academic Honor Roll
• Played in eight games and started three, versus Mississippi State, No. 6/5 Florida and Tennessee
• Six tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sack
• Personal-best two stops against Tennessee and one apiece against No. 10/11 Texas A&M, No. 20/17 LSU, South Carolina and Ole Miss
• First career sack against Tennessee for a 10-yard loss
As a Freshman (2019)
• Did not see action
The Clifton File
• Prepped at Brentwood Academy (Tenn.)
• Three-star prospect by 247Sports
• Two-way linemen
• Led team to three straight Division II Class AAA state titles
• Nine sacks, 14 tackles for loss, as a senior co-captain
• Junior starter at center, leading team to 38.3 points/game
• 2018 all-region
• 2018 all-county
• 2018 all-midstate
• Varsity basketball performer
• Born in Chicago
• Full name is Nathan Isaiah Clifton
• Son of Natasha Clifton
• One brother, Nehemiah
• Prep teammates with Vanderbilt’s Cam Johnson, Gavin Schoenwald and Harrison Smith
• Grew seven inches between ninth and 12th grades
• Majored in medicine, health and society and pursuing a graduate degree in learning, diversity and urban studies