Kaelin Clay: Utah Receiver Pulls A DeSean Jackson, Drops Ball At 1-Yard-Line, Oregon Returns It 99 Yards For A Touchdown

Kaelin Clay just turned in one of the most bizarre college football plays you’ll ever see, one that is likely to bring back some nightmares for DeSean Jackson.

The Utah wide receiver was racing to what appeared to be a 78-yard touchdown and a big blow to No. 4 Oregon, but instead ended up handing a score to Ducks in one of the most unlikely touchdowns ever.

Clay beat defenders on the play and snagged a long pass from quarterback Travis Wilson. But as he was reaching the endzone, Kaelin Clay slowed down and dropped the ball.

What Clay didn’t realize is that he had not yet crossed the plane of the goal line, so as he and teammates celebrated in the endzone and the Utah home crowd went crazy, a few sharp-eyed Oregon players ran to the ball. Oregon linebacker Joe Walker ultimately picked it up, with a convoy of Oregon blockers ahead of him keeping away the only two Utah players who seemed to realize Clay’s mistake.

Walker ran the ball 99 yards for a game-tying touchdown.

After the game, Walker said he realized that the play wasn’t over when the referee failed to signal for a touchdown.

“I thought he might have dropped the ball a little early. I wasn’t too sure,” Walker said. “I saw the ref throw the bean bag (to indicate a fumble). Ran down there, picked up the ball.”

Klay’s mistake would prove to be costly. Instead of being up 14-0 the No. 17 ranked Utes were tied. Oregon used the miscue to seize momentum, scoring 24 consecutive points in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 24-10 lead. The Ducks would go on to win the game 51-27.

After the game, Kaelin Clay admitted his mistake and took blame for the loss.

“I know how important points are, so I take full responsibility,” Clay said. “I got carried away.”

Kaelin Clay isn’t alone in dropping the ball a little too soon. Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson famously dropped a sure touchdown at the 2-yard-line in his rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles as he was going in for a score.