Wharton senior quarterback Andrew Clifford had no choice to become a football player. When you have five uncles who played college football, along with a dad who was a quarterback/running back at Florida in the 70s, football runs in your blood.

Clifford said two of his uncles played at Clemson, two at The Citadel and another played at Florida like his father, Tom. He had a cousin play at Alabama and his older brother played linebacker/tight end at Tampa Catholic.

At age 6, Clifford was already in pads.

“It’s fun to be a part of this family,” Clifford said. “At family reunions, we get huge football games going.”

Over the summer, Clifford took home the golden jersey after winning the Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge at the 2008 EA SPORTS Elite 11 regional quarterback camp at the University of Alabama. He scored 15 points in the preliminary round, and then won the finals with six points at the camp, which also included Georgia commitment Zach Mettenberger.

Last season, Clifford finished with 1,471 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 80 of 139 passes as a junior. He was later given the team’s Big Cat Leadership Award.
He said UAB and South Carolina are showing the most interest.

Listening to his father and uncles talk about football paid off.

“I hear that all the time,” he said. “I watch their game film all the time.”

But his father’s side isn’t responsible for all of his athleticism.

“My mom ran the Boston Marathon a few times,” he said.