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 | ||||||||
| College: | South Carolina State | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1980 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Dextor Clinkscale (born April 13, 1958 in Greenville, South Carolina) is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1980. He played college football at South Carolina State. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts.
Early years
Clinkscale attended J. L. Mann High School before moving on to South Carolina State University, where he received Black College All-American honors in 1979.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Clinkscale was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1980. After appearing in all 16 games as a rookie, he missed the entire 1981 season due to an Achilles tendon injury.[1]
In 1983, he was named the starter at strong safety. 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.[2] In 1985, he registered a career-high 100 tackles and 3 interceptions.
In 1986, he was released 6 games into the season and his position was assigned to Bill Bates, after staging a holdout from the start of training camp.[3]
During his six years with the Cowboys, he started 46 of 71 games, and had nine interceptions, seven sacks, and nine fumble recoveries. He returned one of those interceptions 68 yards for a touchdown in 1983.
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.[4] He appeared in just 5 games because he signed so late in the season. He was waived on July 27, 1987.[5]