There are some players that are ready for the big time from the very beginning.
We originally brought Clayton Sayfie on as a freelance writer in September of last year, after the football season had already begun. Our hiring search stretched through the summer, and we were having trouble finding the right fit that checked all the boxes.
Very early on and despite being thrown directly into the fire, the young Hope College grad proved he could provide exactly what we were looking for — and then some. He was willing to do anything and everything asked of him, grinded like a walk-on trying to prove himself, lived out the ‘The Team, The Team, The Team’ mentality and even hopped a fence when needed.
The way that Clayton’s teammates on the staff rave about him really tell the true story.
Staff writer Austin Fox: To say he’s been an outstanding addition here would be a massive understatement. His work ethic, pedal to the metal mentality and energetic personality made him a great fit from day one, and the fact that he’s the most knowledgeable staffer in regards to technology has only helped his cause (that’s not saying much though, seeing as how Borton, Balas and I are all technologically challenged). Michigan culture is engrained in him, and his knowledge regarding recent U-M sports history is second to none.
Recruiting guru EJ Holland: Clayton has been a tremendous asset to our recruiting coverage. He brings a bulldog mentality to the beat and is constantly willing to go above and beyond. His recent scoop on Rayshaun Benny is a reflection of Clay's potential and hard work. On top of that, Clay has helped us add a new element to our recruiting coverage with upgraded video content. He works hard behind the scenes to produce multiple weekly segments. Clayton is a rising star in the industry, and his versatility will make him a valuable member of this staff for years to come.
TheWolverine.com editor Chris Balas: Over the years, we’ve seen recruits come and go here at TheWolverine.com. Some of them were really hard workers, but not great teammates. Some of them were solid teammates, but not great workers. We’ve been waiting for a few guys to step up and really show us the “complete package” — the passion and love for the job, and wanting to make us better. We landed two in Austin and EJ, and Clay is the latest. It’s a high bar here, and Clay has already proven himself worthy. That’s about the highest compliment I can give someone in our profession.
The future is bright with Clayton on board as a full-time employee. Look for him to continue to expand his repertoire, cover even more football and basketball recruiting, and start a special project or two in the near future that will help make our magazine and website stronger.
Jim Harbaugh once described himself by saying: “I don’t take vacations. I don’t get sick. I don’t observe major holidays. I’m a jackhammer.”
Please help us welcome (officially) our newest jackhammer to the crew.
We originally brought Clayton Sayfie on as a freelance writer in September of last year, after the football season had already begun. Our hiring search stretched through the summer, and we were having trouble finding the right fit that checked all the boxes.
Very early on and despite being thrown directly into the fire, the young Hope College grad proved he could provide exactly what we were looking for — and then some. He was willing to do anything and everything asked of him, grinded like a walk-on trying to prove himself, lived out the ‘The Team, The Team, The Team’ mentality and even hopped a fence when needed.
The way that Clayton’s teammates on the staff rave about him really tell the true story.
Staff writer Austin Fox: To say he’s been an outstanding addition here would be a massive understatement. His work ethic, pedal to the metal mentality and energetic personality made him a great fit from day one, and the fact that he’s the most knowledgeable staffer in regards to technology has only helped his cause (that’s not saying much though, seeing as how Borton, Balas and I are all technologically challenged). Michigan culture is engrained in him, and his knowledge regarding recent U-M sports history is second to none.
Recruiting guru EJ Holland: Clayton has been a tremendous asset to our recruiting coverage. He brings a bulldog mentality to the beat and is constantly willing to go above and beyond. His recent scoop on Rayshaun Benny is a reflection of Clay's potential and hard work. On top of that, Clay has helped us add a new element to our recruiting coverage with upgraded video content. He works hard behind the scenes to produce multiple weekly segments. Clayton is a rising star in the industry, and his versatility will make him a valuable member of this staff for years to come.
TheWolverine.com editor Chris Balas: Over the years, we’ve seen recruits come and go here at TheWolverine.com. Some of them were really hard workers, but not great teammates. Some of them were solid teammates, but not great workers. We’ve been waiting for a few guys to step up and really show us the “complete package” — the passion and love for the job, and wanting to make us better. We landed two in Austin and EJ, and Clay is the latest. It’s a high bar here, and Clay has already proven himself worthy. That’s about the highest compliment I can give someone in our profession.
The future is bright with Clayton on board as a full-time employee. Look for him to continue to expand his repertoire, cover even more football and basketball recruiting, and start a special project or two in the near future that will help make our magazine and website stronger.
Jim Harbaugh once described himself by saying: “I don’t take vacations. I don’t get sick. I don’t observe major holidays. I’m a jackhammer.”
Please help us welcome (officially) our newest jackhammer to the crew.
