Daryll Clark facts for kids

Daryll Lawrence Clark (born February 5, 1986) is an American former professional football player. He played as a quarterback, which is like the team's leader on the field. Daryll Clark played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He later joined the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Clark set many passing records during his time at Penn State from 2005 to 2009. He attended Ursuline High School and The Kiski School before college. He also played for teams like the Omaha Nighthawks, Chicago Rush, and Myrtle Beach Freedom.

College Football Journey

Starting at Penn State

Daryll Clark began his college career with the Penn State Nittany Lions. In the 2006 season, he played in five games. He completed 14 passes and ran for 48 yards. He also scored three touchdowns as a backup player. His first college game was against Notre Dame.

More Playing Time

In 2007, Clark got more chances to play. He was still a backup quarterback. He completed 6 passes for 131 yards and ran for 78 yards. He scored two touchdowns that season. Clark played a big role in the 2007 Alamo Bowl against Texas A&M. He helped Penn State come back in the game. This game also showed off Penn State's new "spread offense" style of play.

Becoming the Starter

For the 2008 season, Clark became the main starting quarterback. He won a competition against another player, Pat Devlin. His ability to run and throw helped Penn State use its "Spread HD" offense. Clark played very well and avoided mistakes. This made him one of the most important players in college football that season.

Team Captain and Records

Before the 2009 season, his teammates chose Clark to be a team captain. By the end of his college career, Clark broke many Penn State records. He set a new record for career touchdown passes with 43. He also became the single-season leader for passing yards with 3,003. Additionally, he set the single-season record for touchdown passes with 24. As a starting quarterback, his team won 22 games and lost only 4.

Awards and Recognition

Daryll Clark received many awards during his college career. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice in 2008. This was for his great games against Wisconsin and Michigan State. He was also a finalist for the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards. These awards go to the best college football player and best quarterback. He was chosen for the first-team All-Big Ten team.

In 2009, Clark was again named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice. This was after wins against Akron and Michigan. He was again named first-team All-Big Ten. Clark also shared the 2009 Chicago Tribune Silver Football award. This award goes to the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He was also named ECAC Player of the Year.

Professional Football Career

Joining Professional Teams

Daryll Clark was not chosen in the 2010 NFL draft. However, several NFL teams showed interest in him. He eventually signed with the Washington Redskins but did not play in a regular season game for them.

Soon after, Clark signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL on July 23, 2010. He played one season with them but did not attempt any passes. In May 2011, the Stampeders released him.

Clark then joined the Omaha Nighthawks in the UFL for the 2011 season. He was released in September. Later that year, he signed with the Chicago Rush in the AFL.

In 2016, Clark played for the Myrtle Beach Freedom in American Indoor Football. He then signed with the Cape Fear Heroes in May 2017 and re-signed with them in December 2017.

Personal Life

Daryll Clark studied telecommunications at Penn State. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2008.