Dextor Clinkscale
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth: | April 13, 1958 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Greenville, South Carolina | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 192 lb (87 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | J. L. Mann (SC) | ||||||||||||
| College: | South Carolina State | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1980 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Dextor Clinkscale (born April 13, 1958 in Greenville, South Carolina) is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at South Carolina State.
Early years
Clinkscale attended J. L. Mann High School before moving on to South Carolina State University. He played at free safety his first 2 seasons, until moving to strong safety as a junior. He received Black College All-American honors in 1979.
In 2000, he was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame.[1]
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Clinkscale was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1980. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games, playing on passing downs to help fill the void left by Cliff Harris' retirement and an injured Randy Hughes. He posted 30 tackles, 2 sacks, 9 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. In the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams, he had one interception.
In 1981, he entered training camp competing with Benny Barnes for the starting strong safety position that was left open with the retirement of Charlie Waters, but missed the entire season due to an Achilles tendon injury he suffered in training camp.[2]
In 1982, he played strong safety on passing downs, registering 2 sacks, one interception, 2 passes defensed and one forced fumble. In the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had one interception and 4 passes defensed.
In 1983, he was named the starter at strong safety, finishing fifth on the team in total tackles, leading the Cowboys in fumbles recovered (4) and tallied 2 interceptions, including one returned for a 68-yard touchdown against the New York Giants.
During his time with the Cowboys, he was a part of a secondary that earned the nickname "Thurman's Thieves", because of the amount of big plays and turnovers they generated.[3]
In 1984, he ranked third on the team in total tackles and interceptions (3), while tying for the team lead in fumble recoveries (2). The next year, he registered a career-high of 100 total tackles, 3 interceptions and 2 sacks.
In 1986, he was released 5 games into the season and his position was assigned to Bill Bates, after staging a holdout from the start of training camp.[4] During his six years with the Cowboys, he appeared in 71 games (46 starts).
Indianapolis Colts
Clinkscale was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts, but he did not agree to a contract and had to be signed as a free agent on October 29, 1986.[5] He appeared in just 5 games, because he signed so late in the season. He was waived on July 27, 1987.[6]