His Way to Top Honors
Looking back, former Grambling State outside linebacker Cliff Exama can now acknowledge that he made the right choice by choosing the Tigers after high school.
"Growing up in Miami, everyone wishes that they would grow up and become a (University of Miami) Hurricane," he said. "And, trust me, I was no different. But, now I realize that going to Grambling was the best possible opportunity."
Exama is currently a grad student at Grambling State and received his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice after the Spring 2010 semester. He hopes to have his Masters by the end of the summer. His goal beyond that is playing in the NFL where he hopes to join his cousin, Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas.
He'd also would like meet his inspiration, Baltimore Ravens linebacker and fellow Miami area native Ray Lewis.
"There's just something about the way he plays," Exama said about Lewis. "It's the way he strikes fear in guys and the passion that he plays with. It's kind of the way that I play. I look at his leadership style and try to make it my own. One thing I do before games is go on YouTube and check out some of his pre-game speeches. That gets me all fired up and ready to perform out there on the field."
In 2010, Exama's play earned him a spot on the SBN Black College All-American Team. As a junior, he recorded 106 tackles that included sixty-one solo stops and eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also had three interceptions and two and a half sacks.
He continued his stellar play as a senior by recording 136 tackles and three sacks. He also had 19 tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, three quarterback hurries and two interceptions. The production led to his designation as the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) 2011 Defensive Player of the Year and the distinguished honor of being named SBN's 2011 Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year."
"I'm excited that the network has given me this honor," Exama said. "I know, truly, that there is nothing that I would change about the decisions that I've made since I left high school. I've enjoyed every single aspect of my career at Grambling. I've encountered some wonderful people that are partly responsible for turning me from a boy into a man and for that, I'll always be grateful."
As Grambling State's emotional and statistical leader on defense, the 5-foot-10 230 pound Exama has led the Tigers each year in tackling since 2009.
Cliff has worked extremely hard to get to where he is," Tigers defensive coordinator Andre Robinson said. "Together, we set goals for him. And with that hard work, he's reached all of them. Also, his hard work has set a new standard for players that will enter our program after him."
With a young offense this year, the Tigers were carried by their defense that yielded 20.8 points per game. In the SWAC Championship game, Exama had the game-clinching interception in the Tigers 16-15 victory over Alabama A&M.
After the game, Head Coach Doug Williams said, "It's a testament to the players and the way they kept fighting through adversity. Several times this season it looked like we wouldn't pull this off. But here we are - SWAC champions."
And there's no doubt that "SBN's 2011 Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year", Cliff Exama, played a major role in helping the Tigers tackle their way to the top.