Interview: Inspirational story of Fort Smith DE/OLB Andrew Clark still unfolding

Life is full of inspiration. Looking around one can draw inspiration from nature, art, literature, positive reinforcement, a good attitude, and even acts of kindness peformed by those around us. Life is also full of struggles. Looking around to find the daily strife of the common man is not difficult. An argument with a loved one, financial troubles, an injury, an accident, or just the daily grind can be enough to send a day or a life temporarily in the wrong direction.

We all have the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, and every now and again we come across someone who embodies a unique spirit displaying motivation, determination, and the ability to overcome the daily grind and all with a smile on his face.

One story on a similar thread is that of Fort Smith, Arkansas outside linebacker/defensive end Andrew Clark.

Without giving too many deep details one can tell Andrew has faced his share of adversity but has always risen to the challenge be-it on or off the field. In eighth grade he left home, transferred schools to help out his older sister, Brandi Jones. Brandi had two toddlers with autism and a third child on the way. Brandi’s husband, a music director at a local church, was working long hours, their family needed help with the infants. There was Andrew, leaving the comforts of his home and his friends to help his sister.

On the field Fort Smith Southside posted a 9-3 record in 2014 beating eventual state champs Bentonville 10-7 during the regular season, losing early in the season to Greenwood 15-10 on the road, and falling twice to Fayetteville, the Arkansas state runner-up, both times on the road.

Rebels head coach Jeff Williams used Clark in a number of ways on defense lining him up at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense and as a defensive end in a traditional 4-3 alignment. Clark responded coming up with 62 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback hurries, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles, and 5 pass breakups.

Southside High School’s 6’2”, 205 pound, rising star has a nose for the ball and is not afraid to mix it up in the trenches. College recruiters have taken interest in Clark. Missouri, Memphis, Duke, Northwest Missouri State, Holy Cross, Hendrix, and even in-state power Arkansas have showed varying levels of curiosity into Clark’s skill set.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview Andrew sat down for a one-on-one interview going over the 2014 season, offseason workouts, preparing for a college camp circuit, and gave some insight to the Rebels 2015 season.

 

Andrew, Southside had a heck of a year losing two games to a really tough Fayetteville team but also beating the eventual state champs, Bentonville. Going into the season did the team know just how good they could be on both sides of the ball?

“We did. We knew the defense was going to be good, but we were not sure about the offense. Every game the offense got better and better. After the third game (42-14 win over Lake Hamilton) we knew we were going to be good. We beat Bentonville 10-7 in the next game. Then we were well aware of the team we had.”

How do the Rebels look heading into the 2015 season?

“I really think we’re going to be better than the team we had last year. Our defense looks likes its going to be good. We’ve got some really good linebackers like Si Kilinc. Hunter Pogue, our middle linebacker, makes really good calls. He did not play last year. He was behind Seth Acosta, a player who won Defensive Player of the Year, understandable. We have (DE) Daevon Johnson, DJ, coming back. He had the most sacks in the state last year.

“Most of our linemen are returning on offense, they’re all pretty big. Austin (Geis) is big. He’s 6’6”, 340 pounds, around that range. We also have tight end Kevin White coming back. He has college potential.”

What are your strengths on the field at linebacker/defensive end?

“My biggest strength is the ability to play both positions. We have an amazing defensive coach, Coach (Steven) Thessing. He understands defenses well. We would switch it up playing a four or three front putting me in either position.”

What do you do well on the field from an operational standpoint?

“I’m good at rushing the QB and stopping the run. I’m big. I shed blocks like its nothing. My speed mixed with my size, I can get around linemen easily. Rushing the passer comes easy to me.”

You had a great stat line in 2014. Did you earn any individual honors?

“I was honorable mention all-state from the newspaper.”

What are your personal goals for the 2015 football season?

“I want to sack the QB at least seven times. I always want to put pressure on the QB. I want to top 17 or 18 tackles for a loss and be more effective against the run. I’m work on my footwork to cover better. I was not the best on covering receivers one-on-one last year. I want to change that. Oh, I also want to have one interception return for a touchdown.

“Another goal of mine is to earn All-State. I’m raising my own goals, make it tougher on myself.”

What are your team goals for next year?

“I want Southside to win the state championship and of course beat (Fort Smith) Northside, our rival. We have a 10 year winning streak against them. We have to keep that going. They have a new coach over there. They seem like a team on the rise but we want to keep them down.”

I like it, polite trash talking. Will Coach Thessing place you at another position on defense next year or will you stay on the outside?

“I’m not sure about other positions. As a sophomore he moved me from D-line to outside linebacker. I’m sure he likes me at the spot I’m at now. If he were to move me he might move me to inside linebacker.”

Which schools are recruiting you right now?

“Missouri, Memphis – they sent a scout out, Duke has invited me to their camp, and Northwest Missouri State, Hendrix, and Holy Cross have all asked me to fill out a survey. Arkansas has talked to coach about me but I’m not 100 percent about that.”

When you’ve spoken to some of the college coaches what have they said they liked about your game?

“The Northwest Missouri State coaches said they like how physical I play the game. They liked how I read my keys and my quickness.”

Are you going to any one-day college camps this summer?

“I’m going to Missouri’s camp, a combine in Tulsa, Northwest Missouri State, Arkansas’ camp, and for now that is all I have in mind. I’m searching for more camps.”

How are you preparing for the camps and your senior year during the offseason?

“Our coach has been testing us. He wants all of us to be more disciplined. We have to lift and everything. I’m helping him and the other athletes get transitioned. Some athletes don’t want to work hard. I’m pushing other players to keep working hard. I’m staying after when I don’t work to work on my footwork. I’m trying to get my footwork up to par.

“I’ve set goals on weight lifting for myself. My goal is to bench 315 pounds and squat 425. I’m not quite there yet but I’m getting there.”

What are your goals for attending any given camp?

“I want to get better as a player, I’d like to get individual time with the coaches and have them teach me how to play the game better. I want to become a better player and I want some recognition for recruiting. I want to improve my form.”

When your time comes to pick where you will play your college ball what will influence your decision?

“The main factor is how well I connect with the coaching staff. If I don’t connect well I won’t perform well. I’ll look at how hard their program works, how hard the players work and how hard the coaching staff works their players. I want to find a nice fit.”

Do you have any NFL players that you enjoy watching play the game? Any that you may watch to learn more about the game?

“I really like the Honey Badger (Tyrann Mathieu). He plays for the Cardinals. I like Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers), and Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) but he’s retired. My newly found favorite is Richard Sherman (Seattle Seahawks).”

Do you know what you want to major in when you go to college?

“I want to major in business or finance. I want to be a real estate agent when I grow up. I don’t know my minor yet.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“The hitting. Easily it’s the hitting, as animalistic as that may sound. The team bus rides. Most of the fun in football is being with the team not necessarily the games. I like to hang out with my friends after the games.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“The people who have had the biggest impact on me have been Coach Thessing and my momma (Vikki Clark). Coach has impacted me – he’s taught me everything I know about defense from fundamentals and conditioning. He pushes me to do more than I thought I could do. He’s why I’m fast. He sets us up to be better than we think we can be.

“My mom, she’s my biggest supporter. My dad works on Friday nights, he can’t go to every game and I understand. My mom didn’t get to go to every game my sophomore year because of car troubles. She promised she would make every game for my junior year. During my junior year she was there for every game win or loss, waiting for me.”

 

Andrew may not be blessed with blazing 4.4 speed or monster size of some defensive ends in the 6’4”, 250 pound range, but what makes Andrew a special football player is Andrew.

In order to pay for all the college camps he wants to attend to help extend his own football career and provide an opportunity for his future education Andrew works anywhere from 15 to 20 hours a week at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Through practice, weight lifting, individual training, and holding down a part-time job, Andrew has a 3.0 GPA and scored a 25 on his ACT, the first and only time he took it.

Wherever Andrew may go as a next level collegiate athlete the coaching staff will not only receive a tough nosed football player who will give his all on and off the field but also a player who looks to help and motivate others and is a leader.

Andrew’s story is a testament to life. He was not handed all the gifts many high school athletes receive but that has not stopped him from becoming an exceptional player on the field and a model person off the field.

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: picturesbyKaren.com; No. 40 Andrew Clark in action.