'He'll be the next Bachelor': Clayton’s prolonged, emotional 'Bachelorette' exit sets up his future
Without having much screen time before this week's episode, "Bachelorette" contestant Clayton's emotional, longer than usual exit from the show set him up perfectly for a potential upcoming "Bachelor" season.
Usually, when a contestant gets sent home, they hop into a black SUV and aren't seen again. But on Tuesday night, the reality dating show shook things up when 28-year-old Missouri-native (and once brief signee with the Seattle Seahawks) Clayton stuck around a while longer to make the case for just how much he wants to find a life partner.
"I just want to find love so badly," he says through tears. "And have a family. And start that chapter of my life. I want it more than anything else. I'll do whatever it takes to get there. Whatever it takes."
Last week's 'Bachelorette' recap: Michelle Young gets Joe to open up about mental-health struggles
Earlier that day, Clayton had won the affection of a handful of Bachelorette Michelle's elementary school students, who visited their teacher to interrogate her suitors.
His prize: A one-on-one date with Michelle, where she admits to him that "something's missing for me" and ultimately doesn't think their relationship can get to a level where she'd be ready to meet his family.
"This just shows me I want kids one day," he breaks down the next day after reading letters from Michelle's students cheering him on.
Rumors of Clayton starring in the next season of "The Bachelor" have swirled for the past few months. While he and the show are staying mum about the potential casting, it's one of Michelle's students, at the end of the episode, who gets the last word.
What should come next for the eligible bachelor, a producer asks off-camera?
"He'll be the next Bachelor," the student predicts.
Who went home?
Martin gets sent home early during this week's group date.
Meanwhile, Nayte nabs the group date rose, and Brandon's successful one-on-one date means a rose for him too.
At the rose ceremony, Rodney and Joe also get roses, which means it's the end of the road for Olu and Rick as Michelle heads into hometowns week with her final four.
Will Michelle be engaged by the end of the season?
Speaking Friday to USA TODAY, Michelle shared her excitement for viewers to watch the rest of the season unfold, which she promises will showcase the "amazing, well-rounded men on the season."
"You really do get these deep stories of the men (who) are left," she said. "And you really do see how wonderful (and) how different and unique each of these men are from the others that are still here. It's pretty cool to watch that unfold."
But the question on all of our minds is… will the Bachelorette be engaged by the end of the season?
"What I can say is that I'm happy with where I'm at," Michelle teases.
Previously: 'The Bachelorette' recap: Michelle Young gets Joe to open up about mental-health struggles
And: 'The Bachelorette' recap: Michelle opens up about being called a racial slur
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Bachelorette': Clayton for Bachelor after Michelle sends him home
