Hewitt caps college career with stellar season

SANDPOINT - It happens all of the time among scouts of every sport, at every level: They go to a game or watch film of one specific player, only to end up noticing somebody else.

Such is the case with former Clark Fork football player and current William Jewell College free safety Clayton Hewitt, who as a senior this year caught the eyes of NFL scouts, most of whom were initially looking at his teammate and fellow senior safety Eric Johnson.

But it was Hewitt, a 6-foot-3, 215 pound free safety, who kept making plays, enough that he's going to take the famous NFL Wonderlic intelligence test in the spring, as well as working out along with Johnson for a host of teams.

After playing eight-man football in high school before earning a scholarship at small NAIA William Jewell College in Kansas City, Hewitt admits the chances of him landing a spot with an NFL team are a long shot. That said, he's prepared to make a real serious go at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play professionally. 

"I really like playing and want to play as long as I can," says Hewitt, who started the last two seasons for the Cardinals. "I'm going to give it my all and take my chances."

Despite missing three games this season with two dislocated shoulders and a torn labrum, among other injuries, Hewitt still managed to lead the Cardinals defense with 62 tackles and five interceptions. He said the highlight of his college career was "a 55 yard pick-six," football parlance for returning an interception for a touchdown.

Johnson, a 6-2, 215 pound strong safety who transferred to the Cardinals from the University of Alabama, is ranked 60th among 120 safety prospects by at least one NFL recruiting service. At least statistically, Hewitt had a superior season to his backfield mate, and Cardinals head coach Fran Schwenk believes he more than holds his own physically as well.

"He's as good an athlete, more smooth and fluent and probably plays the ball better than Eric," praises Schwenk, adding that a host of NFL teams, including the Panthers, Redskins and Saints, have called specifically regarding Hewitt. "It all started with everybody coming to see Eric Johnson, but they've been impressed with Clayton. He's an outstanding young man and a class citizen, and on top of that a great natural athlete."

Hewitt was named to the second team in the Heart of America Conference, acknowledging he would have made first team without all of the injuries. He called it a "real tough season," but admits it taught him a valuable lesson.

"It really teaches you to appreciate the games you get to play in," he says. "You really learn to enjoy it more."

With low 4.5 second 40 speed and great size for a safety, Hewitt certainly possesses the measurables the pro scouts covet. Nearly every NFL team has already called or stopped by the William Jewell campus, many of whom will schedule future workouts. From there, it's just a matter of doing enough to catch their eye and possibly earn a free agent invite to a training camp in 2009.

Hewitt wished to thank his parents Pam and Jeff Hewitt of Clark Fork for their loyal support throughout the years, as well as former Cats coach Frank Hammersley, who helped land him the scholarship at William Jewell College, where he plans to graduate in May of 2009.