Daryll Clark
Encyclopedia
Daryll Lawrence Clark is a football
quarterback
who is currently a member of the Chicago Rush
. He was signed by the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
as an free agent in 2010. He played collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions
. He is the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in touchdowns. Clark was recruited to Penn State out of Ursuline High School
in Youngstown by way of The Kiski School
in Saltsburg
, Pennsylvania
.
Clark has also been a member of the Omaha Nighthawks
.
for the Penn State Nittany Lions
. He completed 14 passes in 27 attempts for 116 yards and ran for 48 yards with 3 touchdown
s as a backup to Anthony Morelli
. He made his college football debut in a loss to Notre Dame
, scoring on a five yard run near the end of the game.
Clark saw more playing time as a sophomore in 2007
, again as a back-up to Anthony Morelli
. He completed 6 passes out of 9 attempts for 131 yards and ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Clark saw significant playing time in the 2007 Alamo Bowl
versus the Texas A&M Aggies
. Penn State trailed the Aggies 14-0 in the second quarter when Paterno sent him in the game in place of Morelli to provide an offensive spark. Clark responded by running for 50 yards on six carries and one touchdown. The game marked with debut of Penn State's new spread offense which replaced the traditional pocket passing- and tailback- oriented offense used by Penn State that season.
Clark was named the starting quarterback for the 2008 season
after a highly-publicized pre-season quarterback competition with redshirt sophomore Pat Devlin
. Paterno cited Clark's game experience as a key factor in choosing him over Devlin. Clark's mobility allowed Penn State to continue development of its "Spread HD" offense. Clark's balanced, mistake-free performance throughout the first half of the season earned him the #6 spot on the Sporting News list of the season's "Most Indispensable Players." At the conclusion of the season, Clark was granted extended eligibility from the NCAA
after meeting certain academic benchmarks required of "partial qualifiers."
Clark was elected team captain
by his teammates prior to the 2009 season
.
At the end of the season Clark established many Penn State records for quarterbacks. He surpassed Todd Blackledge
in career touchdown passes with a total of 43. Clark also became Penn State's single season leader in yards passed with 3,003 yards and the single season leader in touchdown passes with 24. His record as a starting quarterback is 22 wins and 4 losses. The losses were twice to the Iowa Hawkeyes
, once to Ohio State
and once to USC in the 2009 Rose Bowl
.
Offensive Player of the Week during the 2008 season
: October 11, for his three-touchdown game versus Wisconsin
. and November 22, following his career-high 341-yard, four touchdown performance in the regular season finale against Michigan State
. He is a semifinalist for the 2008 Maxwell
and Davey O'Brien
awards. The awards are given annually to the top collegiate football
player and top quarterback, respectively. At season's end, he was named a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection.
Prior to the 2009 season
, Clark was selected as one of 20 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
candidates and named to the Davey O'Brien Award
watchlist. He earned Big Ten
Offensive Player of the Week accolades twice that season: September 4 and October 24, following wins over Akron
and Michigan
, respectively. He was named first-team All-Big Ten after the 2009 season.
Clark was co-winner, with Michigan
’s Brandon Graham
, of the 2009 Chicago Tribune Silver Football
, awarded by the Chicago Tribune
to the college football
player determined to be the Most Valuable Player
of the Big Ten Conference
. It was the first time two players have shared the award since its establishment in 1924. He also was named ECAC
Player of the Year.
. He attended the mini-camp of the Washington Redskins
on a tryout basis but was not signed.
on July 23, 2010.
On May 10, 2011, the Calgary Stampeders
announced that they had released Clark.
of the United Football League
for the 2011 season. He was released on September 2.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who is currently a member of the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
. He was signed by the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
as an free agent in 2010. He played collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. He is the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in touchdowns. Clark was recruited to Penn State out of Ursuline High School
Ursuline High School, Youngstown
Ursuline High School is a private Catholic coeducational secondary school located in Youngstown, Ohio. Founded in 1905 by the Ursuline Sisters, it was an all-women's academy until 1930. The north side school is owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown...
in Youngstown by way of The Kiski School
The Kiski School
The Kiski School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. It is the oldest remaining non-military all-male boarding school in the United States....
in Saltsburg
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
Saltsburg is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 955 at the 2000 census. The town was based on the construction of salt wells and the canals and railroad tracks that passed through it.-Geography:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Clark has also been a member of the Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
.
College career
As a redshirt freshman, Clark appeared in five games during the 2006 season2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2006–2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
for the Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. He completed 14 passes in 27 attempts for 116 yards and ran for 48 yards with 3 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s as a backup to Anthony Morelli
Anthony Morelli
Anthony Michael Morelli is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
. He made his college football debut in a loss to Notre Dame
2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was a college football team which represented the University of Notre Dame during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Charlie Weis in his second year as head coach and played their home football games at Notre Dame...
, scoring on a five yard run near the end of the game.
Clark saw more playing time as a sophomore in 2007
2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
, again as a back-up to Anthony Morelli
Anthony Morelli
Anthony Michael Morelli is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
. He completed 6 passes out of 9 attempts for 131 yards and ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Clark saw significant playing time in the 2007 Alamo Bowl
2007 Alamo Bowl
The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl is a college football bowl game that was part of the 2007–2008 bowl season of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 15th Alamo Bowl and the first Alamo Bowl sponsored by the Valero Energy Corporation...
versus the Texas A&M Aggies
2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team
The 2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2007-2008 college football season. The team was coached by Dennis Franchione, who had coached at A&M since the 2003 season, but resigned at the conclusion of the annual game with the University of Texas...
. Penn State trailed the Aggies 14-0 in the second quarter when Paterno sent him in the game in place of Morelli to provide an offensive spark. Clark responded by running for 50 yards on six carries and one touchdown. The game marked with debut of Penn State's new spread offense which replaced the traditional pocket passing- and tailback- oriented offense used by Penn State that season.
Clark was named the starting quarterback for the 2008 season
2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.-Previous season:...
after a highly-publicized pre-season quarterback competition with redshirt sophomore Pat Devlin
Pat Devlin (American football)
Patrick Ryan "Pat" Devlin is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He started at quarterback for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens of the University of Delaware...
. Paterno cited Clark's game experience as a key factor in choosing him over Devlin. Clark's mobility allowed Penn State to continue development of its "Spread HD" offense. Clark's balanced, mistake-free performance throughout the first half of the season earned him the #6 spot on the Sporting News list of the season's "Most Indispensable Players." At the conclusion of the season, Clark was granted extended eligibility from the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
after meeting certain academic benchmarks required of "partial qualifiers."
Clark was elected team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
by his teammates prior to the 2009 season
2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2009 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State had the highest graduation rate among all of...
.
At the end of the season Clark established many Penn State records for quarterbacks. He surpassed Todd Blackledge
Todd Blackledge
Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
in career touchdown passes with a total of 43. Clark also became Penn State's single season leader in yards passed with 3,003 yards and the single season leader in touchdown passes with 24. His record as a starting quarterback is 22 wins and 4 losses. The losses were twice to the Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, once to Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
and once to USC in the 2009 Rose Bowl
2009 Rose Bowl
The 2009 Rose Bowl, the 95th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the same-named stadium in Pasadena, California. Because of sponsorship by Citi, the first game in the 2009 edition of the Bowl Championship Series was officially titled...
.
Awards
Clark was twice named Big TenBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Offensive Player of the Week during the 2008 season
2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.-Previous season:...
: October 11, for his three-touchdown game versus Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
. and November 22, following his career-high 341-yard, four touchdown performance in the regular season finale against Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
. He is a semifinalist for the 2008 Maxwell
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
and Davey O'Brien
Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
awards. The awards are given annually to the top collegiate football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player and top quarterback, respectively. At season's end, he was named a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection.
Prior to the 2009 season
2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2009 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the 2009 college football season. The team is coached by Joe Paterno and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State had the highest graduation rate among all of...
, Clark was selected as one of 20 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior quarterback in college football. It was established in 1987 by a foundation named for Johnny Unitas , the Hall of Fame quarterback who played his college career at the University of...
candidates and named to the Davey O'Brien Award
Davey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
watchlist. He earned Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Offensive Player of the Week accolades twice that season: September 4 and October 24, following wins over Akron
Akron Zips football
The University of Akron Zips are a college football program representing the University of Akron that competes in NCAA Division I FBS Mid-American Conference football...
and Michigan
2009 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2009 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2009 college football season. They played their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the Big Ten Conference...
, respectively. He was named first-team All-Big Ten after the 2009 season.
Clark was co-winner, with Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
’s Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham (American football)
Brandon Lee Graham is an American football defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the thirteenth selection in the draft and the first from the Big Ten Conference...
, of the 2009 Chicago Tribune Silver Football
Chicago Tribune Silver Football
The Chicago Tribune Silver Football is awarded by the Chicago Tribune to the college football player determined to be the best player from the Big Ten Conference. The award has been presented annually since 1924, when Red Grange of Illinois was the award's first recipient.The winner of the Silver...
, awarded by the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
to the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player determined to be the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. It was the first time two players have shared the award since its establishment in 1924. He also was named ECAC
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
Player of the Year.
Records
By the end of the 2009 regular season, Clark held five Penn State records:- Career touchdown passes (43)
- Season touchdown passes (24)
- Season passing yardage (3003 yards)
- Season touchdowns responsible for (31)
- Career touchdowns responsible for (65)
Washington Redskins
Clark went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He attended the mini-camp of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on a tryout basis but was not signed.
Calgary Stampeders
He signed a free-agent contract with the Calgary StampedersCalgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
on July 23, 2010.
On May 10, 2011, the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
announced that they had released Clark.
Omaha Nighthawks
He signed with the Omaha NighthawksOmaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
of the United Football League
United Football League
United Football League may refer to:*United Football League , an association football league in the Philippines.*United Football League , an American football league which operated from 1961 to 1964...
for the 2011 season. He was released on September 2.
External links
- Access Athletes, Athlete Chat: Daryll Clark
- Clark's confidence shaped through adversity, Adam RittenbergAdam RittenbergAdam Rittenberg is a blogger and sports journalist for ESPN's college football section dedicated to the Big Ten Conference in college football. Before 2008 when he joined ESPN, he was a sports writer at Daily Herald in Illinois. Rittenberg is a graduate of Northwestern University and resides near...
, ESPN.com, October 1, 2008 - ESPN Bio
- Video: Daryll Clark Feature, Big Ten Network, December 2008.
- Clark stands ready to fill leadership void at Penn State
- Daryll Clark video profile