Mississippi Valley State has just added another piece to its offensive line as it prepares for the 2022 season.
Former North Carolina A&T offensive lineman Rio Claytor has committed to MVSU after a stint in the transfer portal. He made his announcement via Twitter.
“Just a kid from Hawaii,” Claytor wrote, “with that being said I’m locked in.”
Claytor is a Hawaii native, having played his high school ball at Mililani High School. He committed to Pima Community College in Arizona out of high school before coming to NC A&T as a redshirt freshman in 2019.
During the 2019 season, Claytor served primarily as backup center for the Aggies. In four games, he played 42 snaps during the season and had a total grade of 57 credited with 20 positive plays. He was expected to compete for time at center and guard when A&T came back to football in 2021, but ended up playing in just one game.
[sc name=”dynamic-article-slide”][/sc]
He entered the transfer portal in May.
“With my undergraduate degree wrapping up I’ve entered the Transfer Portal,” Claytor wrote in May. “I still have a lot of football time and heart left in me, as well as a master’s degree to chase! I have 2 years of eligibility; 1 year on my 5 year clock and 1 Covid 19 extension year. A&T not only gave me a degree, but coaches who have poured their knowledge and time into me and I am forever grateful to take all of that to the next chapter of my story.”
Now he’s taking his talents to the SWAC, where he will join a very physical Mississippi Valley State program. Valley ran the ball 422 times in 2021 – the fourth-highest total in the SWAC. The 6’1, 290 pound interior lineman will look to carve out a spot as fall camp nears.