Garrett Clawson

Clawson enters his second season with the Wolverines as Special Teams Analyst.

A native of Duncansville, Pa., Clawson assisted with a special team's unit that ranked top 10 nationally in special teams efficiency. Most notably, Clawson mentored BIG10 Kicker of the Year and AP All-American Dominic Zvada. Zvada finished the season making 21/22 field goals (95%) while going 7-7 beyond 50 yards.

Clawson spent 2023 as Sr. Quality Control for special teams with Southern Methodist. Clawson played a vital role in the success of the SMU special teams unit in 2023, resulting in three All-AAC selections in kicker Collin Rogers (first team), returner Roderick Daniels Jr. (second team), and punter Ryan Bujcevski (third team). Rogers set the single-season records for most field goals made (20) and PATs (66).

The Mustangs were one of four FBS teams with a minimum of three touchdowns scored on special teams. 

Rogers turned in a big year in 2023, setting school records for most fields made (20), PATs (66) and the single-game record for the AAC Championship for most field goals (4). 

Bujcevski finished second in the AAC in punting with a 44.5 average, while Daniels Jr. was third in return average (10.7 yards), highlighted by returning a 67-yard punt for a touchdown against Temple. 

Prior to coming to the Hilltop, Clawson served as Special Teams Quality Control for Old Dominion University in 2022. He assisted with a special teams unit that went from being ranked 11th in C-USA in Net Punting to first in the Sun Belt. Additionally, the team ranked 15th nationally in net punt (41.4) while finishing 14th in the FBS in punt return defense (3.06). ODU led all FBS teams with four blocked kicks.

Beginning in 2019, coached six All-Conference players in three seasons at Saint Vincent College (2019-21). Mentored two-time All-PAC running back Mike Stasko on his way to becoming the school’s all-time leading rusher and breaking several school records.

 Guided punter Christian Witchey to first-team all-conference honors in 2019, while setting school records for best punting average in a career, season and single game.

 From 2016-18, served as Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs coach at Saint Francis University (PA). During that time, special teams flourished, finishing first in the Northeast Conference in several categories; net punt (2016-18), punt return (2017-2018), and kickoff coverage (2017) while nationally ranked in the top 10 in kickoff return (2016) and punt return defense (2016-2018). In 2016, Lorenzo Jerome finished as second in FCS kick return average (28.6), while Lance Geesey garnered All-American honors on becoming the school’s all-time leader in points (294) and field goals made (57).

Clawson helped Andrew Zecca set several punt records including best punting average (43.3), longest punt (78) and back-to-back 1st team All-NEC honors in 2017 and 2018.

 Additionally, instructed the conferences’ top kick returners from 2016-18. All-American Lorenzo Jerome garnered 1st Team All-NEC honors in 2016 by finishing as the second-highest returner in the country with a 28.6 average, while Nick Rinella landed All-NEC honors as a returner in 2017 and 2018.

 In 2016 mentored Jr. RB Marcus Bagley to 891 yards and a touchdown on 207 carries, averaging 81 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry to earn First Team All-NEC honors. Bagley posted two 100-yard games, including a career-high 220 yards in a win at Columbia, an effort which earned him a NEC Offensive Player of the Week award. Bagley also caught 12 passes for 109 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown catch at Robert Morris.

 While serving as Special Teams Coordinator for two seasons at Westminster College, the team never gave up a blocked kick, blocked punt, touchdown, onside kick or fake to an opponent. The Titans also blocked six kicks, scored four touchdowns, and gained 16 turnovers on special teams from 2014-15. Instructed Sophomore RB Dom McKinley on his way to becoming the first RB to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark since 2002 (1,262) while sparking one of the biggest turnarounds in D3 that year, going from 4-6 in 2014 to 9-2 and winning an ECAC championship in 2015.

As a player, spent three seasons kicking at Robert Morris University from 2008-10. Led the Colonials in scoring in 2008 and was named First Team All-NEC in 2009. That year set the Robert Morris season record for field goals made with 14 while tying the single-game record of 3 field goals on three separate occasions. Led the team in scoring in 2009 while also earning NEC Special Teams Player of the Week in three consecutive weeks, becoming the only player in Northeast Conference history to do so.

 In 2010, named Preseason First Team All-NEC and received All-American honors. Finished career ranked fifth all time in scoring at RMU with 139 points.

Clinics by Coach Clawson:

Winning 4th Down: Punt vs Punt Return