Antonio Clary’s Final Stand: A Cavalier’s Relentless Journey to the Gator Bowl
In a sport built on toughness, Antonio Clary redefined what it means to be resilient.
For Virginia safety Antonio Clary, the shoulder pads aren’t just part of the uniform - they’re armor. After enduring three knee surgeries and one on his ankle, Clary’s body has given him every reason to quit. But quitting was never an option.
“Clary is just a warrior,” said Virginia head coach Tony Elliott after a late-season win over North Carolina, where Clary snagged a key interception. “People don’t understand what he has to go through just to get himself ready to play.”
That preparation wasn’t just about film study or practice reps. It meant starting every week barely able to walk, getting his knee drained on Mondays, and slowly grinding his way back into playing shape by Tuesday or Wednesday.
And even then, the safety room was crowded. His spot was never guaranteed.
But Clary never wavered.
He just kept showing up.
“Just continuing to work and put my head down,” Clary said. “I know that I’m here for a reason, and that’s allowed me to be able to push through and keep going.”
That reason? To help turn Virginia football around.
“I told Coach Elliott and [athletic director] Ms. Carla Williams so many times - before I leave here, we’re gonna get this thing turned around.”
And so, he stayed. Through every rehab, every setback, every frustrating moment of uncertainty, Clary stayed.
The seventh-year graduate student arrived in Charlottesville back in 2019. He played in five games before a season-ending injury cut his freshman campaign short - the first of many physical hurdles.
Over the next two seasons, Clary emerged as a reliable presence in the Cavaliers’ secondary. Then came 2023, a lost season due to injury and a medical redshirt.
In 2024, he returned with high hopes - only to suffer another ACL tear.
Still, when healthy, Clary made his impact felt. In just six games this season, he racked up 48 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions - good for fifth on the team in total tackles.
But Clary’s value wasn’t just in the box score. Even when sidelined, he was a vocal leader, a steadying force in team meetings, practices, and film sessions.
If he wasn’t recovering from surgery, he was traveling with the team - crutches and all.
“Everyone looks at me as a leader, and it’s my responsibility to continue to lead - whether I’m playing or not,” Clary said. “I had a responsibility to the younger guys and to this team that I was going to continue to lead and be that same person.”
Elliott saw it too.
“He’s taken a lot of pride in how he’s investing in the younger guys, to have them prepared and ready to play,” Elliott said. “Because he understands that he’s going to die on the battlefield if given the opportunity.”
Clary finally got his chance again in Virginia’s ACC opener against Stanford, logging one series. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
“Knocking off some rust - it felt good to get out there,” Clary said.
It took time, but by the Wake Forest game, Clary felt like himself again. Fast.
Physical. Confident.
“I felt I can do this at a really high level,” he said. “My body’s still holding up.”
His most memorable moments came in rivalry games. He picked off a pass in the Cavaliers’ upset win over North Carolina, and again in the regular-season finale against Virginia Tech - a game that not only helped secure a spot in the ACC Championship, but also allowed Clary to bookend his career with wins over the Hokies.
The ACC title game in Charlotte didn’t go Virginia’s way - and Clary doesn’t hide his frustration about that - but his story isn’t over just yet.
There’s one more chapter.
Clary will suit up one final time in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against Missouri - in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.
“My mom said, ‘I know it didn’t end the way you wanted it to, but looking at the bright side of it, you get to end your college career in Jacksonville, where it all started,’” Clary said.
He grew up going to Jaguars games at EverBank Stadium, even played youth football there. Now he’ll step onto that field one last time, in a Virginia uniform, with friends and family in the stands.
“I’ve been in that stadium so many times… so just being able to play my last college game in there is pretty sweet.”
But don’t mistake this for a farewell tour. Clary’s still locked in.
Still pushing. Still leading.
He’s made it clear - he’s not done until the wheels fall off.
“Just continue to hold a standard for future generations that come here,” Clary said. “Virginia football is planning to be at the top every single year.”
He’s seen the highs and lows. His first year with the program was strong.
Then came the injuries, the setbacks, the long road back. But to end it all with Virginia back in a bowl game - and healthy - means something.
“Being able to finish it strong and healthy is big,” he said.
Clary will remember this season - the field storming, the big wins, the grit it took to get there. The Cavaliers were picked to finish 14th in the ACC. They ended up playing for the conference title.
“Being projected to finish 14th in the conference, and then being able to be number one by the end of the year is pretty special,” he said.
And as his time in Charlottesville winds down, Clary is still doing what he’s always done: setting the tone.
“You’re not promised anything,” he told the younger players. “You’re not promised tomorrow. So just taking advantage of the moment that you have in front of you, being present, where your feet are at - continue to develop.”
That’s the message he’s driving home during bowl prep. Not just about the game itself, but the opportunity it gives for growth.
“You have three weeks to develop as football players and hone in on your craft,” Clary said. “What you want to be next year as a team - that starts right now.”
For Antonio Clary, it’s always been about more than just the next snap. It’s about legacy. And with one more game to play, he’s not just walking off into the sunset - he’s sprinting toward it, shoulder pads on, head held high.