Football
Clifton, Antonio
Antonio Clifton
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
- Email:
- aclifto8@utm.edu
Antonio Clifton enters his seventh season as a member of the coaching staff and serves as the program’s cornerbacks coach at UT Martin, his alma mater, in 2025.
Throughout his coaching career, he has served as the team's running back coach (2024), cornerback coach (2022-23, and 2025) and defensive graduate assistant (2019-21).
Moving over to offense prior to the 2024 season, Clifton mentored a group which set school records for total offense (5,249 yards), first downs (255) and rushing touchdowns (28). The Skyhawks also boasted the Big South-OVC's top scoring offense at 31.4 points per outing and best red zone offense at an 87.8 percent conversion rate. Highlighting the rushing attack was Patrick Smith who earned all-conference first team honors after leading the Association with 1,226 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 87.6 rushing yards per game.
His second season leading the cornerbacks saw the Skyhawks boast a pair of all-conference honorees in 2023. Defensive back Oshae Baker earned Big South-OVC Football Association first team honors while JaMichael McGoy, Jr. was tabbed to the second team. Along with individual success, the Skyhawks won their third consecutive league championship.
In his first full season as cornerbacks coach in 2022, the Skyhawks won its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship. UT Martin led FCS in turnovers gained (28) and interceptions (17) through the regular season while also ranking among the nation's leaders in defensive touchdowns (four, 3rd), turnover margin (+9, 5th) and fumbles recovered (11, 8th). Following the campaign, cornerback Shaun Lewis was named to the All-OVC first team.
Before transitioning to an assistant role, he served as a defensive and special teams graduate assistant for three years from 2019-21 with the Skyhawks. In that role he worked primarily with the rovers and special teams units.
Clifton played in 24 games at UT Martin from 2016-18, tallying 37 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss while recording four pass breakups. He also spent two seasons at Itawamba Community College where he tallied 95 tackles, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, an interception, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery.
A native of Tupelo, Miss., Clifton prepped at Tupelo High School where he helped the Golden Wave notch a Class 6A state runner-up berth.
Clifton graduated from UT Martin in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance.
Throughout his coaching career, he has served as the team's running back coach (2024), cornerback coach (2022-23, and 2025) and defensive graduate assistant (2019-21).
Moving over to offense prior to the 2024 season, Clifton mentored a group which set school records for total offense (5,249 yards), first downs (255) and rushing touchdowns (28). The Skyhawks also boasted the Big South-OVC's top scoring offense at 31.4 points per outing and best red zone offense at an 87.8 percent conversion rate. Highlighting the rushing attack was Patrick Smith who earned all-conference first team honors after leading the Association with 1,226 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 87.6 rushing yards per game.
His second season leading the cornerbacks saw the Skyhawks boast a pair of all-conference honorees in 2023. Defensive back Oshae Baker earned Big South-OVC Football Association first team honors while JaMichael McGoy, Jr. was tabbed to the second team. Along with individual success, the Skyhawks won their third consecutive league championship.
In his first full season as cornerbacks coach in 2022, the Skyhawks won its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championship. UT Martin led FCS in turnovers gained (28) and interceptions (17) through the regular season while also ranking among the nation's leaders in defensive touchdowns (four, 3rd), turnover margin (+9, 5th) and fumbles recovered (11, 8th). Following the campaign, cornerback Shaun Lewis was named to the All-OVC first team.
Before transitioning to an assistant role, he served as a defensive and special teams graduate assistant for three years from 2019-21 with the Skyhawks. In that role he worked primarily with the rovers and special teams units.
Clifton played in 24 games at UT Martin from 2016-18, tallying 37 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss while recording four pass breakups. He also spent two seasons at Itawamba Community College where he tallied 95 tackles, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, an interception, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery.
A native of Tupelo, Miss., Clifton prepped at Tupelo High School where he helped the Golden Wave notch a Class 6A state runner-up berth.
Clifton graduated from UT Martin in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance.
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