 |
#87 Marquez Clark |
Position: Wide Receiver Previous College: Navarro Junior College Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship |
Marquez Clark (b. Sept. 26, 1991) might be the most anticipated player in the 2012 class (control yourself, Panjandrum), considering he's the only four-star player in the class and we beat out Pittsburgh to sign him.
The No. 16-rated junior college player in the nation by Rivals.com, Clark set NJCAA individual single-season receiving records for receptions (98) and yardage (1,639).
Clark also claimed virtually every Navarro career and single-season pass-catching record in the process in 2011.
He totaled 100-plus receiving yards in each of his final 10 games and caught nine or more passes in six of those games, including a 13-catch, 186-yard effort in a 40-24 Heart of Texas Bowl win over New Mexico Military Institute.
In 23 games during two years at Navarro, Clark finished with 126 catches for 2,039 receiving yards and 19 TDs, but also starred in an all-purpose role by totaling 3,304 yards and 20 TDs in 181 plays — almost 18.3 yards per touch.
For his career, he averaged 26.1 yards per kickoff return (38 returns for 993 yards) and 20.3 yards from 10 punt returns during the 2011 season, including one for an 84-yard score against Trinity Valley.
Clark led Navarro to a 21-3 record in two seasons, including a national title in 2010 and a No. 5 national ranking in 2011. But why is he so effective and such a record-setting receiver?
Part of it is his hands, which are pretty darn good as you can see in this video.
But he's also a speed demon. Clark holds Liberty-Eylau High School records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. He placed fifth in the 100-meter dash in the 2010 Texas State Championships.
Still not impressed? Well, consider that he holds those school records despite being a high school teammate of LaMichael James.
I'm going to temper my expectations for Clark because I've learned not to get one's hopes up too much for JUCO players. They're too unpredictable. He seems like he will be a stud, but you just never know.
That said, Clark appears to be a formidable addition to an already potent wide receiver corps, one that might rival West Virginia's as the best in the Big 12. Our biggest problem might be ensuring our QB can get them all the ball.