One to Watch: Former Plano East CB De’Vontaye Clark Working to D-I through Monterey Peninsula

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The movie title Friday Night Lights nor the follow up successful TV show with the same name sake completely does Texas football credit. The title could easily extend out while shedding even more light onto high school football in Texas or throughout the south – Friday Night Lights with Saturday Game Day Dreams.

There is not a kid growing up anywhere in the south, who truly loves the game, that does not have aspirations of playing time at the next level. Former Plano East cornerback De’Vontaye “Dee” Clark is one of the now millions to have come up through the ranks who have gone on to try to see their dreams become a reality.

No matter how big or small the college spotlight may shine on Clark, when the ball kicks off for Monterey Peninsula on Sept. 3 against Yuba College he has seen part of his dream become a reality. Success for all junior college players should be acknowledged with acceptance that there is a lot more work left to be done. The long road ahead is just part of Clark’s unique story.

Clark graduated from Plano East High School in the Dallas area in 2014. After a year at Waylon Baptist, a NAIA program, Clark transferred in the spring to Cisco Junior College and then to Monterey in the off-season. The now- 5-10, 180 pound, corner lost most of his senior year with the Panthers after suffering a concussion in Game 2 of the 2013 season. Now Clark is ready to show next level recruiters that he can contribute to their roster in the near future.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Clark going over his playing career to date, off-season workouts, and expectations for his freshman season on the field.

Interview

De’Vontaye, how did your senior season in high school go for you?

“I started the first two games and then I had a concussion that kept me out until the last game of the season. I didn’t start that last game because I had been injured but I still had a pass breakup and a big hit in that game. My senior year was basically lost because of that concussion.”

Did you have any interest from colleges going into your senior year?

“Yes sir. North Texas was showing a lot of interest in me at that time. Everything with recruiting stopped because of my concussion.”

After you graduated from PESH where did you attend school?

“I went to Waylon Baptist (NAIA) for the fall semester and then I transferred to Cisco to open my recruiting back up. I’m at Monterey now competing for starting position at corner. We just had a scrimmage (vs. Cabrillo College on Aug. 24), I had four tackles and two pass breakups in the scrimmage.”

Did you redshirt at Waylon?

“Yes sir. I trained and worked on my grades the whole time I was there.”

What have you been working on this off-season heading into your freshman year on the field?

“My main thing is footwork and my hips. I work on my back pedal and explosiveness. I’ve done a lot of work on my upper and lower body to increase my overall strength. My mindset as a DB is to increase my top end speed and explosiveness to come over the top or underneath. I’ve worked a lot to get in and out of my breaks faster.”

Did you max out during the off-season on your football lifts?

“Yes sir. My bench is 265 and my squat is 425.”

Nice. Did you run a 40-yard dash this off-season?

“The last 40-yard dash I ran, which was in the spring, was a 4.5.”

You’re challenging for a starting spot at corner, will we see you anywhere else on the field this season?

“Yes sir. I’m on special teams. I’m the L3 on punt returns and L1 on kickoffs and on the punt team. I’d like to play some safety this season if they need me to show what all I can do.”

Are you receiving any interest from schools right now after your spring with Cisco?

“Yes sir. Nazarene (D-II), Henderson State (D-II), and Midwestern State – I get an email from them just about every day. I’ve also talked to UAB (Alabama-Birmingham).”

Did you go to any college camps this summer?

“No sir. The last camps I went to were heading into my senior year and the camps I went to then were TCU and North Texas.”

How does the team look heading into the season?

“I think we look great. I’d say after this scrimmage, we can be the most physical team in the conference. When you start camp everyone is in the playbook. But now we have guys with great instincts and talent making plays. I think we can win conference this year.”

I know you are still somewhat new to Monterey but is there a game you are excited to play on the schedule for any reason?

“Yes sir – Hartnell (Nov. 5). They are our rival in the conference. Even though I have been here a short time, I know they are a big rival. In games like that there is a lot of talking. That excites me. Winning those kind of games there is nothing they can say. We are not talking but going about our business. We are confident about beating those guys this year.”

Last question, but a different kind of question. What will it be like for you when you take the field for your first collegiate game?

“It’s going to be so exciting for me. I look forward to it. The scrimmage was a preview of what it will be like. It will be surreal for me after I have overcome everything I have been through. I get emotional about it. I’ve been told what I could not do all my life. I have changed a lot of aspects about my life for the better. That first game will be surreal and emotional, and very exciting.”

De’Vontaye, I wish nothing but the best for you this season. Good luck.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: hudl.com; No. 7 De’Vontaye Clark at Plano East.

Photo credit: Clark family; De’Vontaye Dee Clark in the locker room.