Will Clapp
![]() Clapp with the Saints in 2021 | |||||
Personal information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born: | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | December 10, 1995||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
Weight: | 311 lb (141 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Brother Martin (New Orleans, Louisiana) | ||||
College: | LSU | ||||
Position: | Center | ||||
NFL draft: | 2018 / Round: 7 / Pick: 245 | ||||
Career history | |||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
| |||||
Player stats at PFR |
Will Clapp (born December 10, 1995) is an American professional football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Louisiana State University. He has previously played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills.
Early years
[edit]Clapp attended Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He committed to play football for the LSU Tigers in January 2010.[1]
College career
[edit]Clapp did not play as a true freshman in 2014 and chose to redshirt. In 2015, as a redshirt freshman, Clapp started all 12 games for the Tigers. He ranked third on the team in total snaps with 776 and knockdown blocks with 88, along with not allowing a sack all season.[2] He was named to the 2015 Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team.[3]
As a redshirt sophomore in 2016, Clapp started 11 of 12 games, missing one due to injury. He played 648 snaps, had 58 knockdown blocks and did not allow a sack for the second straight season.[2] He was named to the 2016 All-SEC football team.[4]
In 2017, Clapp started all 13 games for the Tigers.[5] He was named to the All-SEC Football Team for the second year in a row.[6] After the season, he announced he was going to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft.[7]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m) | 311 lb (141 kg) | 31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 5.39 s | 1.81 s | 3.13 s | 4.92 s | 8.04 s | 29.0 in (0.74 m) | 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m) | 25 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine[8][9] |
New Orleans Saints
[edit]Clapp was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round (245th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.[10] On May 10, 2018, Clapp signed his rookie contract with the Saints.[11] He made his NFL debut on December 17, 2018, against the Carolina Panthers as a substitute for Michael Ola.[12] Clapp saw action in 14 games during the 2019 season, starting three.[13]
On September 26, 2020, Clapp was waived by the Saints and re-signed to the practice squad on September 29.[14][15] Clapp spent much of the remainder of the 2020 season alternating between the active roster and the practice squad,[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] playing in several games in the middle of the season before being permanently added back to the active roster,[24] though he also spent time on the reserve/COVID-19 list during the postseason.[25][26]
Clapp re-signed with the Saints on April 20, 2021.[27] After starting the regular season on injured reserve,[28] Clapp was re-activated on October 2, spending the rest of the season alternating between the practice squad and active roster as with the previous year.[13][23] Clapp started three games in 2021, playing with the likes of Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, and Taysom Hill after spending his first three years with Drew Brees under center.[13]
Los Angeles Chargers
[edit]On April 26, 2022, Clapp signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.[29]
On April 6, 2023, Clapp re-signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.[30] Following a season-ending health issue from starter Corey Linsley, Clapp was named the starting center in Week 4. He suffered a knee injury in Week 15 and was placed on injured reserve on December 18.[31]
Buffalo Bills
[edit]On March 22, 2024, Clapp signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills.[32] The move reunited Clapp with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who was an offensive assistant with New Orleans during Clapp's rookie season. On August 27, 2024, he was waived by the Bills.[33]
References
[edit]- ^ "Will Clapp commits to LSU". Geaux 247. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ a b "Will Clapp Bio". The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "2015 SEC All-Freshman Football Team announced". The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "SEC announces Coaches All-SEC Teams". The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "Will Clapp-LSU Tigers-2018 Player Profile". RotoWorld. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "2017 All-SEC Football Team announced". The Official Website of the Southeastern Conference. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "LSU center Will Clapp becomes sixth underclassman to declare for draft". The Advocate. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ "Will Clapp Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "2018 NFL Draft Scout Will Clapp College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Lopez, Andrew (April 28, 2018). "New Orleans Saints pick LSU offensive lineman Will Clapp in 7th round". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints sign six draft picks". NewOrleansSaints.com. May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Luke (December 18, 2018). "Saints rookie OG Will Clapp thrust into a big role for his NFL debut". nola.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Will Clapp signs contract with Bills: What to know about the meme-famous center". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. September 26, 2020.
- ^ Just, Amie (September 29, 2020). "Saints re-sign former LSU OL Will Clapp to practice squad". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Just, Amie (October 3, 2020). "Saints make 4 roster moves ahead of game against Lions". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ Just, Amie (October 8, 2020). "Saints waive New Orleans native, ex-LSU guard Will Clapp". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ Just, Amie (October 10, 2020). "Saints re-sign OL Will Clapp to practice squad, release practice squad WR Malik Henry". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ Just, Amie (October 24, 2020). "Saints to use Austin Carr, Juwan Johnson as COVID-19 replacements, activate Will Clapp too for game vs. Panthers". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- ^ Just, Amie (October 31, 2020). "Saints sign WR Tommylee Lewis to 53-man roster, elevate 3 practice squad players for Bears game". NOLA.com. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. December 5, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Spotrac.com. "Will Clapp". Spotrac.com. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Luke (January 16, 2021). "Saints make flurry of roster moves, activate WR Tre'Quan Smith off injured reserve". NOLA.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "Saints' Will Clapp: Returns from COVID-19 list". CBSSports.com. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – April". NFL.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. September 6, 2021. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Offensive Lineman Will Clapp". Chargers.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Re-Sign Will Clapp". Chargers.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Announce Roster Moves". Chargers.com. December 19, 2023.
- ^ "Bills sign OL Will Clapp to one-year deal". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ White, Alec. "Buffalo Bills made these moves to get to initial 53-man roster". buffalobills.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.