Darryl Clack facts for kids

Darryl Earl Clack (born October 29, 1963) is a former American football player. He played as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Darryl also played for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was known for his speed and skill on the field.

Early Life and Sports Talents

Darryl Clack grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He later moved to Colorado during his high school years. At Widefield High School, he was known by the nickname "Mr. Click."

Darryl was an amazing track and field athlete. He won the state championship in the 100 metres race twice. He also won the 200 metres and 400 metres races three times each. He set state records for speed in all three events. His efforts helped Widefield High School win team state titles in 1979, 1980, and 1981.

Besides track, Darryl also played running back in football. He earned All-state honors as a senior. He even played basketball for his school. In 1982, he was named Colorado Prep Athlete of the Year. Later, he was inducted into the Colorado Springs Hall of Fame in 2006. In 1993, he joined the Colorado High School Hall of Fame.

College Football Career

Darryl Clack received a football scholarship to Arizona State University. In 1982, he became the first freshman in 30 years to lead the Sun Devils in rushing yards. His team won the 1983 Fiesta Bowl against the University of Oklahoma, where Darryl scored a touchdown. Fans loved him so much that they sold "Darryl Clackers" (metal noisemakers) at games!

As a sophomore, he led the Pac-10 conference in rushing yards. He also became the first player at Arizona State to gain over 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game. In his junior year, he rushed for over 1,000 yards.

His senior season was cut short due to an injury. However, he returned to play in the 1985 Holiday Bowl. Darryl finished his college career as one of Arizona State's top rushers of all time. He had over 2,700 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. He was also a member of the track and field team for three years in college.

Professional Football Journey

Dallas Cowboys Years

The Dallas Cowboys picked Darryl Clack in the second round of the 1986 NFL draft. He was meant to be a backup to star player Tony Dorsett. However, another famous player, Herschel Walker, joined the team that same year. This meant Darryl mostly played as a kickoff returner.

As a rookie, he was very good at returning kickoffs. He averaged 22.2 yards per return. In 1987 and 1988, he continued to be one of the top kickoff returners in the NFC. He left the Cowboys in 1989.

Other Teams

After the Cowboys, Darryl signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1990 but was released before the season started.

In 1991, he joined the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He even played in the Grey Cup championship game with them.

In 1992, Darryl played for the Orlando Thunder in the World League of American Football. He became the team's starting running back. He rushed for 517 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. He was also honored as an All-World League player that season.

Life After Football

After his football career, Darryl Clack continued his education. He earned a degree in Kinesiology and Sports Studies. He worked in the business world, including banking and management roles.

Later, he pursued a master's degree. During this time, he faced some health challenges. He was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and also with early-stage dementia. Doctors believe the dementia was caused by head trauma from playing football.

These experiences inspired Darryl to write a book called "Hear My Story Before I Forget." He also started a foundation. This foundation helps raise awareness about his blood disorder and about brain injuries.

Even though he no longer plays, Darryl stays involved in sports. He is the president and co-founder of SportMetric. This company focuses on education, community involvement, and athletics for young people.