Clayborn leaves the money and stays

Somewhere out on the internet, there's a Santa Claus picture with Adrian Clayborn's face photo shopped under the red furry hat.

Clayborn laughed about it during a Monday interview.

"I've seen the picture floating around, me in a Santa Claus suit," the Iowa defensive end said with a laugh. "It's funny, I don't take it too seriously."

And then he gave Hawkeyes fans a nice Christmas present. The junior announced he'll stay in school instead of entering the NFL draft in April.

He considered it and he probably should've. He finished fourth in the Big Ten in both sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (18). That's 20th and 14th, respectively, in the national statistics.

Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan and Clayborn will be the top defensive linemen. Kerrigan led the conference with 13 sacks. The Big Ten's other two top D-linemen this year, Michigan's Brandon Graham and Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield, are seniors.

Clayborn is rated as high as a second- of third-round pick on some NFL draft websites.

"Just going through the process," Clayborn said when asked what triggered the decision. "It's something I've been thinking about a lot. (Former Hawkeye running back) Shonn Greene helped me out a lot with it. He went through the process last year. And talking to my mom (Tracie).

"It just came down to . . . I think I could be ready for the NFL, but I just don't want to leave yet. I still have stuff to prove in college."

Last week, defensive coordinator Norm Parker tipped his hand on the counsel he's given his players. It was a decisive "stay in school."

“It's to their advantage to be a year bigger and stronger and faster and more mature," Parker said. "There's a great deal of difference between high school and college, and college and pro. And if you get there too early, you'll get eaten alive. . . .

"It's hard to do. I think they better find out exactly where they're going to be drafted before they venture out in the deep water. That water is not only deep, it's cold.”

"Definitely," said Clayborn when asked if he took Parker's advice to heart. "I'm not going to sit down and think I've accomplished that much this year. I've done some things, but I can get better. Hopefully, I will get better."

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft is Janl 15. Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga and cornerback Amari Spievey are also on the NFL radar. Bulaga, who earned various all-American honors in the last two weeks, is listed as a first rounder by some internet sites. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper lists Spievey as the nation's No. 4 junior cornerback.

Clayborn said he has no idea what Bulaga and Spievey might be thinking. Spievey was supposed to attend Monday's media session, but wasn't there.

"I haven't been talking to them. That's their decision," Clayborn said. "They didn't ask me about mine, so . . ."

A slow start to the season might've played into Clayborn's decision. Two games in, against Northern Iowa and Iowa State, the 6-foot-4, 283-pounder hadn't laid a hand on a quarterback. He was credited with a half tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and that was about it.

"It was the weather, not being used to playing and I was a little hurt in camp," Clayborn said. "There were a lot of things. I thought I was ready to play, but obviously, I wasn't.

"I'm just glad we picked up the Arizona game otherwise it would've been a long year. There were a lot of things that went into it. We got together and said, we can't do this anymore. If we've got (D-line) coach K (Rick Kaczenski) yelling at us all the time, it's not going to be a great season."

Against Arizona, Clayborn had six tackles, including a sack and three QB hurries. And then the next week, he pushed the Hawkeyes past then-No. 5 Penn State with a blocked punt he returned for a 53-yard TD.

After the Penn State game, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz noted Clayborn's slow start and sudden explosion.

“He was maybe a step slow the first week, week-and-a-half, whatever it may be,” Ferentz said. “That happens in football, that happens to all of us. We're not always our sharpest. He's really responded and the last two weeks, I think we've seen the Adrian Clayborn that we're all used to seeing.”

But maybe, just maybe, Clayborn likes it here.

Yes, he was a victim of a stalking and still has an assault charge against him, but he's arguably the most recognizable person in Iowa City outside of Ferentz.

"I don't want to sound cocky, but no," he said when asked about being recognizable. "People notice me everywhere. With the hair (long dreadlocks) and I'm a big guy, so people notice me."

At Saturday's basketball game, Clayborn received the loudest ovation from the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd. He also signed autographs for kids, something he seemed to really enjoy.

"It's fun to see the expressions on kids' faces when they see the Hawks," Clayborn said. "It's not a burden. I'll sign autographs for as many kids as I can. I like doing that kind of stuff for kids. I know that's the highlight of the day. I like seeing that stuff. It's good.

". . . I think a lot of guys see the money and run for it. I'm not too worried about that. My thing is I love football and I think I can enjoy another year here."

By the way, the Santa beard is coming off after the Orange Bowl.