Dallas Clark

Dallas Dean Clark (born June 12, 1979 in Livermore, Iowa) is an American football tight end who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Clark played college football at the University of Iowa and became one of Iowa's most beloved players.

Background

Dallas Clark was a multi-sport star at Twin River Valley High School, earning four letters in football, basketball, and track and five letters in baseball. As a freshman, he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in football and was second team all-conference as a sophomore. As a junior, Clark was first team all-conference and honorable mention all-state after recording 140 tackles and being named team MVP. He was his high school team MVP and team captain as a senior, recording 160 tackles. Clark was first team all-conference and second team all-state as a senior. Dallas Clark comes from an athletic family. His brother, Derrik, played linebacker at Iowa State from 1996-97 and his other brother, Dan, played baseball at Simpson College. Days before Dallas graduated from high school, Clark's mother, Jan, died of a heart attack at age 49. Dallas speaks often very fondly of his mother, saying, "Everything I do, I devote it to her."

College Career

Clark did not see action during the 1999 season, but he finally saw the field in 2000. He played on special teams and made six tackles during the season as a linebacker. Prior to the 2001 season, the Iowa coaching staff decided to move Clark to the tight end position. Dallas Clark started 10 games at tight end for Iowa in 2001, catching 38 passes for 539 yards and four touchdowns on the season. He also played special teams, recovering an on-side kick to clinch a win against Penn State and recording five tackles on the year. Clark was named honorable mention All-Big Ten. After being granted a scholarship for 2002, Clark started all 13 games as he helped lead Iowa to its first undefeated conference season in 80 years. Clark was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week against Purdue, when he caught three passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown came in the third quarter, when he broke a Purdue tackle and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest pass play in Kinnick Stadium history and the second longest in school history. Clark's second touchdown came with 1:07 left in the game. With the Hawkeyes trailing, 28-24, Clark caught a seven yard pass on fourth and goal from quarterback Brad Banks to give Iowa a 31-28 win. ^[1] Dallas Clark was not only selected first team All-Big Ten, but he was also a consensus first team All-American and 2002 recipient of the John Mackey Award which is presented to the most outstanding Tight End in college football by the Nassau County Sports Commission. He won the Kenny Yana Award at the end of the 2002 season as well, as he helped lead Iowa to the Big Ten title and an 11-2 record. Although he had one more year of eligibility remaining, Clark decided to enter the 2003 NFL Draft. He left Iowa with 1,281 career receiving yards in just two years at the tight end position.

Pro Career

Dallas Clark was chosen in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts with the 24th pick. He started 10 games as a rookie and had 340 receiving yards before suffering a broken leg against the New England Patriots. He started 15 games in 2004 and had 423 yards receiving with 5 receptions for touchdowns. Clark started 15 games in 2005 and caught 37 passes for 488 yards and 4 touchdowns. In his career, he has 117 catches for 1,562 yards and 14 touchdowns and a 13.4 yard average per catch. ^[2] Clark started in 11 games in the 2006 season before suffering a knee injury in the November 26 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He returned for the playoffs and played very well leading up to the Colts first Super Bowl berth in Indianapolis. In the Colts three playoff games, he caught a total of 17 passes for 281 yards. Clark is a member of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. In the 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears, Clark caught 4 passes for 36 yards and rushed the ball once for a 1 yard gain. Clark has started all 12 games of the 2007 season thus far, and has had 57 receptions for 611 yards, and a single season team record for a tight end 11 touchdowns.

References

1. ^ Clark's Iowa Hawkeye Bio
2. ^ Clark's Indianapolis Colts Bio

External links

• Dallas Clark v. Purdue 2002 Video
• http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396154
• http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/ClarDa00.htm