By: Nathan Bloechl — [email protected]
Fort Dodge, Iowa — No one really knew what Humboldt graduate Devon Clark’s football playing future looked like following a stellar four-year career in the blue and gold.
Clark, a wide receiver/tight end hybrid in high school, probably wasn’t big enough to play tight end at the next level nor fast enough to play on the outside.
But that didn’t change his goal of playing at the collegiate level.
After all, Clark’s bloodlines are as good as they come.
Dad, Derrik, played at Iowa State University and enjoyed a cup of coffee in the NFL.
Uncle Dan Clark, well he was a four-year letter-winner at Simpson College in Indianola and has served as a coach in various stops along the FBS and FCS level.
Most famously, Uncle Dallas Clark was a first-round pick, NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion with the Indianapolis Colts.
Alas, Clark took his talents just south to Fort Dodge and began his collegiate career at Iowa Central.
His freshman year, well, that was an acclimation project to the rigors of being a student-athlete at the next level.
This year, he says, has been a “Triton Revival.”
And he’s been doing it at… long snapper?
You read that right.
It’s not the most glamorous position.
In fact, it’s probably the least glamorous position in football.
You won’t get the headlines unless you colossally mess up, but Clark has enjoyed every moment of his new role.
He’s a key cog on a team now headed to the Graphic Edge Bowl, under first-year head coach Jesse Montalto.
“Our team has come such a long way from the start of the season” Clark explained. “We started 2-4, lost a couple of close games but we made some adjustments and now have won five straight.”
Those wins have came over Dodge City Community College, Ellsworth — Montalto’s former program, Independence Community College — the star of Netflix’s hit show Last Chance U, Fort Scott Community College and most recently: Hutchinson Community College.
Clark and the Tritons have risen all the way up to #16 in the latest NJCAA poll.
“It’s so cool being part of another successful football program” Clark stated.
“It has me so excited for my future [plans] and where football takes me.”
The Graphic Edge Bowl will be played at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls against #12 Monroe (N.Y.) College.