Tag: Frank Clark

2014 Season Countdown: #5 Frank Clark

Frank Clark

Name: Frank Clark
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 277 lbs.
High school: Cleveland (OH) Glenville
Position: Defensive end
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #57
Last year: I ranked Clark #7 and said he would be the starting weakside end with 50 tackles and 8 sacks. He made 43 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries (1 returned for a touchdown), and 1 pass breakup.

Clark got a ton of hype going into 2013. He promptly disappointed a lot of fans in the first three games. But from week four onward, he stepped up his game. If you pretend he was injured against Central Michigan, Notre Dame, and Akron, he made 39 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in nine games! That’s pretty impressive. His season highlight was probably the fumble returned for a touchdown against Penn State, but it might also have been his 9 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss against Michigan State. There were several solid outings – enough to be named Second Team All-Big Ten – but it’s hard to cleanse the bitter taste from your mouth after that ineffectual start.

But hey, it’s a new year. We’re all a year older and a year smarter and a year closer to paying off our mortgages. Oh, happy day! Clark has put on just a couple pounds since last year, and despite being 20 lbs. heavier than Brennen Beyer, he’s staying on the weak side. Michigan faces a couple patsies within the first few weeks, so in a year when he should be trying to show off for the impending NFL Draft, he had better get off to a faster start. Furthermore, the opposing offensive tackles he’ll face this year should be a little less talented, so I expect a significant – but not outlandish – jump in production. Even though he might not be Michigan’s most talented defensive player, he’s ranked this high because the backups at weakside are few and unproven. With Beyer and sophomore Taco Charlton over on the strong side, the only experienced backup is junior Mario Ojemudia. After him it’s freshman Lawrence Marshall, who would ideally redshirt but will probably play a few snaps here and there like Ojemudia did in 2012. It’s important that Clark stay healthy because Beyer is not a good pass rusher, and the interior defensive linemen only have that thing called “potential.” I’ll stick with with my slightly updated prediction for last year.

Prediction: 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 8 sacks

2014 Bronko Nagurski Award watch list

Frank Clark

The 2014 Bronko Nagurski Award watch list has been released, and there are a few Michigan players on the list, plus some other notable players from the Big Ten, other opponents, and Michigan’s recruiting. Charles Woodson (1997) is the only Michigan player to have won the award, which is given to the nation’s best defensive player.

Michael Bennett – DT – Ohio State*
Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State*
Shilique Calhoun – DE – Michigan State
Frank Clark – DE – Michigan
Blake Countess – CB – Michigan
Su’a Cravens – S – USC*
Carl Davis – DT – Iowa
Kurtis Drummond – S – Michigan State*
Devonte Fields – DE – TCU*
Kendall Fuller – CB – Virginia Tech*
Randy Gregory – DE – Nebraska
Vernon Hargreaves III – CB – Florida*
Ryan Mueller – DE – Kansas State
KeiVarae Russell – CB – Notre Dame
Jake Ryan – LB – Michigan
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame*
Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan State

*Offered by Michigan

2014 Bednarik Award watch list

Jake Ryan

The 2014 Bednarik Award watch list has been released. The award is given to the most outstanding defensive player in the country. There are several Big Ten and other opponents on the list, and you may want to scan through the list just to see some familiar names from the recruiting trail.

Michael Bennett – DT – Ohio State
Joey Bosa – DE – Ohio State
Shilique Calhoun – DE – Michigan State
Frank Clark – DE – Michigan
Carl Davis – DT – Iowa
Kurtis Drummond – S – Michigan State
Randy Gregory – DE – Nebraska
Jordan Lucas – CB – Penn State
Keivarae Russell – CB – Notre Dame
Jake Ryan – LB – Michigan
Jaylon Smith – LB – Notre Dame
Trae Waynes – CB – Michigan State

Phil Steele’s 2014 All-Big Ten team released

Devin Funchess

Phil Steele released his 2014 All-Big Ten team, and there are several Michigan players on the list.

FIRST TEAM
WR Devin Funchess
LB Jake Ryan
CB Blake Countess

SECOND TEAM
DE Frank Clark
LB Desmond Morgan

THIRD TEAM
P Will Hagerup

FOURTH TEAM
QB Devin Gardner
LB James Ross III

Many of these are interesting picks for various reasons. First of all, Devin Funchess is going into his first year as a full-time wideout, and he will also be without a proven commodity taking attention away from him in the form of Jeremy Gallon. Ryan is switching positions from strongside outside linebacker to middle linebacker in a new base defense. Countess has been rumored to be relegated to a backup role behind sophomore Jourdan Lewis, though Countess will start at slot corner. Morgan is another guy who changes positions, albeit slightly (middle linebacker to weakside linebacker). Gardner might be the most physically talented quarterback in the conference, but he’s behind Braxton Miller (understandable due to winning and good talent), Connor Cook (who came out of nowhere last year), and Christian Hackenberg (who will be without his stud receiver, Allen Robinson). I think there’s a decent chance that Gardner is a First Team or Second Team all-conference quarterback by year’s end. Meanwhile, Ross is in a battle for his position with up-and-comer Royce Jenkins-Stone.

Michigan certainly has a lot of question marks going into 2014, but that’s what happens when you go 8-5 and 7-6 in consecutive years.

Video: Beyer, Clark talk spring game

Hit the jump for Frank Clark’s interview.