COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Ryan Clanton joins the Nittany Lions as the program’s offensive line coach after spending the previous three seasons at Iowa State in the same position. He added run game coordinator to his duties in 2024.
- In three seasons with the program, Clanton's work with the offensive line helped the Cyclones go from 108.0 rushing yards per game to 160.5 yards in 2024, and then another jump to 174.5 yards in 2025.
- The Cyclones allowed a combined 51 sacks during the 2023-25 seasons, the eighth-fewest among Power Four teams during that time.
- The Cyclones closed the 2025 season running for at least 150 yards in seven-straight games, the longest streak since doing so for eight-straight games from 2008-09.
- Carson Hansen (950) and Abu Sama III (732) became the first Cyclone pair to each have over 700 yards rushing in a season since Jim Wingender (1,070) and Mike Williams (781) in 1975.
- Offensive lineman Tyler Miller earned All-Big 12 third team honors, while Trevor Buhr and Jim Bonifas earned honorable mention honors.
- Clanton's offensive line unit helped the Cyclones rush for 25 touchdowns in 2024, the fourth-most in a single season at Iowa State, as the team posted one of the best seasons in program history.
- The team finished 11-3 overall, the first double-digit win season in school history, and went 7-2 in Big 12 play as it advanced to the conference championship game for the second time in 133 seasons.
- Jarrod Hufford capped his six-year career earning All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades in his first season playing center. It was the second such honor in his career, earning it as a left guard in 2023.
- Offensive tackle Jalen Travis was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, becoming the first ISU offensive lineman drafted since 2013. Hufford signed a free agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders after the draft.
- His first season saw the Cyclone offensive line unit make gradual improvement throughout the season as ISU finished the season 7-6 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play, the largest conference win improvement (+5) in Power-5, on its way to playing in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
- The Cyclones increased their rushing yards per game from the previous season and ranked 11th nationally in sacks allowed with just 14. Iowa State's scoring offense also improved in Clanton's first season on the coaching staff.
- Clanton saw a pair of his offensive linemen picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft during his tenure at UNI. Offensive tackle Trevor Penning was a 2022 first round pick by the New Orleans Saints, while right offensive tackle Spencer Brown was a third-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 draft.
- At UNI, Clanton was elevated to offensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. In his first season running the offense, UNI averaged 33 points and 444.9 yards per game, increasing both totals from the previous season.
- The 2022 Panthers ranked among the nation’s leaders in total offense (16th), third down conversion percentage (52%; 4th), passing yards per completion (14.8; 8th) and tackles for a loss allowed (4.1; 6th).
- In total, Clanton saw his offensive linemen earn eight All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors in his five seasons with the program. Penning was a First-Team All-American in 2021 and Jackson Scott-Brown earned first-team honors from the Walter Camp Foundation in 2019. Jared Penning earned Freshman All-America accolades and was Freshman Player of the Year from Phil Steele in 2021.
- The Panthers reached the FCS Playoffs three times in his five seasons, including advancing to the quarterfinals in 2019.
- Prior to his time at UNI, Clanton spent four seasons at Ventura College (Calif.) where 19 of his 20 starting offensive linemen earned all-conference accolades. Six of his players earned all-state and four earned All-America accolades.
- He also served offensive coordinator and running game coordinator during his time, with VC finishing among the leaders in red-zone scoring offense, passing touchdowns, third-down conversion percentage, yards per game and first downs per game.
PLAYING CAREER
- Clanton attended City College of San Francisco and played for the Rams in 2008 and 2009, earning Junior College All-America honors on the offensive line.
- He later played at the University of Oregon where he was a left tackle, left guard and right guard under head coach Chip Kelly.
- He spent three seasons in Eugene, redshirting in 2010 as the Ducks reached the 2011 BCS National Championship game. Oregon won the 2012 Rose Bowl and the 2013 Fiesta Bowl.
- Clanton was a captain on the 2012 team that finished 12-1. The Ducks posted a 36-4 record during his playing career.
- Clanton was invited to NFL training camps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers.
PERSONAL
- A native of Bakersfield, California and product of Bakersfield Christian High School, Clanton earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon in applied economics, business and society in 2013.
- He received his master’s degree in kinesiology with a specialization in sport management from LSU in 2018.
- He is married to his wife, Erin.
THE CLANTON FILE
Personal
Year at Penn State: 1st
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Education: Oregon, 2013 - B.S. Business, Economics and Society; LSU, 2018 - M.S. Kinesiology
Family: Wife: Erin
Coaching Career
2026-: Penn State [Offensive Line]
2024-25: Iowa State [Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line]
2023: Iowa State [Offensive Line]
2022: Northern Iowa [Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line]
2018-21: Northern Iowa [Offensive Line]
2014-17: Ventura College [Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line]
2013: Bakersfield Christian High School [Offensive Line/Defensive Line]
Playing Experience
2008-09: City College of San Francisco
2010-13: University of Oregon
Postseason as a Coach
2024: Pop-Tarts Bowl [Iowa State]
2023: AutoZone Liberty Bowl [Iowa State]
2021: FCS First Round [Northern Iowa]
2019: FCS Quarterfinals [Northern Iowa]
2018: FCS Second Round [Northern Iowa]
2017: SFCA Playoffs [Ventura College]
2016: SFCA National Bowl [Ventura College]
2015: Beach Bowl [Ventura College]
2014: SFCA National Bowl [Ventura College]
Prominent Players Coached
Spencer Brown [Northern Iowa]: Buffalo Bills; 2021 third-round pick
Julian Good-Jones [Iowa State]: Washington Commanders
Trevor Penning [Northern Iowa]: New Orleans Saints; 2022 first-round pick