2025 Nate Clifton DL USC NFL Draft Report CFBALL

Position Defensive Line
Class Redshirt Senior
Ht./Wt. 6-4 / 295
Hometown Nashville, TN.
Highschool Brentwood Academy

CAREER: In his 5-year career at Vanderbilt (2019-23), he had 93 tackles, including 12.5 for loss (with 7.5 sacks) 3 PBUs and 1 INT while appearing in 43 games with 37 starts.

2024: Clifton, who transferred to USC in the spring of 2024 from Vanderbilt, will compete for playing time at defensive tackle as a redshirt senior (with one year of eligibility remaining).

VANDERBILT: As a redshirt senior in 2023, he was selected as a team captain and recorded 30 tackles, including a team-leading 7.5 for loss (with a team-leading 5.5 sacks), 1 PBU and 1 INT. He also led the team in QB hurries (4).

He saw action and started in all 12 games.

As a redshirt junior in 2022, he recorded 22 tackles, including 3 for loss (with 1 sack) and 1 PBU while seeing action and starting in all 12 games.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2021, Clifton tallied 35 tackles, including 1 for loss and 1 PBU while seeing action in 12 games and starting 10.

As a redshirt freshman in 2020, he had 6 tackles, including 1 for loss (with 1 sack) while seeing action in 7 games and starting 3.

He did not see any action as a true freshman in 2019.

HIGH SCHOOL: Clifton, a three-star recruit, was ranked the No. 34 player in the state of Tennessee by 247Sports and No. 47 by ESPN. He was touted as the No. 89 edge in the nation by 247Sports and No. 149 by ESPN. Clifton played both ways in the trenches for Brentwood Academy. He helped to lead the team to 3-straight Division II Class AAA state titles.

As a senior in 2018, he was named to All-Region, All-County and All-Midstate teams.

PERSONAL: He was named to the SEC Academic Honor roll in 2020 and 2022. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Health and Society from Vanderbilt. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Project Management and a certificate in Gerontology at USC.