Thomas Clayton ( American football ) Thomas Clayton ( born April 26 , 1984 ) is an American football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft . He last played college football at Kansas State . He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns , New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks . Early years . Clayton was born in Germany on April 26 , 1984 . Clayton grew up in the Washington DC metropolitan area where he attended Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria , Virginia , where he was a SuperPrep All - American running back . He was named to the USA Today All - USA team and was rated the eighth best running back nationally by Rivals . com and participated in U . S . Army All - American Bowl As a senior , he rushed for more than 2 , 000 yards . College carer . Clayton began his college football career at Florida State University as a true freshman in 2002 , rushing for 45 yards on 13 attempts . Clayton made is final appearance as a Seminole , playing in the 2003 Nokia Sugar Bowl Following the BCS Bowl , Clayton then transferred to Kansas State University , where he sat out the 2003 season under NCAA transfer rules . In 2004 , Clayton appeared in 10 games serving as primary backup to Darren Sproles . He finishing with 14 carries for 71 yards . In 2005 , with the departure of Darren Sproles to the NFL , Clayton ' s junior year looked to be promising . Picking up where Sproles left off , Clayton looked to be Kansas State ' s new bell cow , shredding opposing defenses for an average of 164 . 5 yards per game and 7 . 7 yards per rush . Leading the nation in both rushing yards per game , and yards per carry after week 3 , Clayton was off to one of the best starts in school history , piling up 329 yards in the first two games . It was the most rushing yards in school history for the first two games of a season . He needed 221 yards to equal the best three - game start in school history and 70 yards for the second - best start , and against a soft University of North Texas opponent , Clayton would have had no problem accomplishing that had he not been suspended , due to an arrest during the teams week 3 bye . " Thomas Clayton , the nation ’ s leading rusher , was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated battery , stemming from a Sept . 16 altercation involving a university parking services employee . " Obviously slowed down by this arrest , Clayton found himself in the dog house after such a promising start . Working himself back in good grace with the team , Clayton was able to finish the 2005 season with two strong games against Nebraska ( 85 yards ) and Missouri ( 104 yards ) , allowing him to finish as the teams leading rusher with 637 yards and 5 total touchdowns . In 2006 , Clayton entered the season ranked amongst the top 10 returning senior running backs . However , with the retirement of head coach Bill Snyder , and the hiring of Ron Prince , Clayton was not able to match his 2005 success . With obvious friction between Clayton and Prince , Clayton only started 4 games his senior year , finishing the year with 338 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns before parting ways with the team after week 6 , for undisclosed reasons . Clayton ' s best game in 2006 came in week 3 against Kansas State ' s highest ranked opponent , # 5 Louisville Cardinals , where he rushed for 119 yards on 15 carries , one of which went 69 yards for a touchdown . He also hauled in five passes for 34 yards . Even though Clayton only participated in 4 games his senior season , NFL scouts felt he displayed plenty of upside in his junior season to receive a 2007 NFL Combine invitation . Clayton also participated in the 2007 Senior Bowl . Clayton was a late addition to the 2007 Senior Bowl roster , but certainly made his presence felt upon his arrival to Mobile , Alabama . Clayton certainly took advantage of his opportunity to display his ability in Mobile , immediately catching the eye of NFL scouts with his burst and quickness throughout the week of practice . Professional career . San Francisco 49ers . Clayton was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round ( 186th overall ) of the 2007 NFL Draft where he went on to lead the NFL in rushing during the 2007 Preseason . He duplicated his Preseason success in 2008 , where he led all rushers again . In August 2009 Clayton suffered an ACL injury , and was placed on injured reserve , where he spent the entire season . First stint with the Patriots . Clayton signed with the New England Patriots on June 11 , 2010 . He was waived on August 6 , 2010 , but re - signed on August 11 , 2010 . He was waived during final cuts on September 4 , 2010 . First stint with the Browns . Clayton was signed to the Cleveland Browns ' practice squad on September 14 , 2010 . Second stint with the Patriots . The Patriots signed Clayton off the Browns ' practice squad on September 30 , 2010 . He was waived on October 23 , 2010 . Second stint with the Browns . Clayton was claimed off waivers by the Browns on October 25 , 2010 . He was waived on December 1 , 2010 . He was active for two games , registering 0 yards on one carry in a Week 10 loss to the New York Jets . Third stint with the Patriots . The Patriots claimed Clayton off waivers on December 2 , 2010 . He played in one game for the Patriots , the Week 17 season finale against the Miami Dolphins , running six times for 17 yards . He was released on August 3 , 2011 . Seattle Seahawks . Clayton was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks on August 3 and then released prior to the start of the season . Third Stint with the Browns . Clayton signed with the Browns on November 1 , 2011 , after Montario Hardesty tore his calf muscle . Arizona Cardinals . Clayton signed with the Arizona Cardinals on July 31 , 2012 . He was waived / injured on August 24 , 2012 .