Micah Clark: From Four-star to college freshman
Rutgers true freshman Micah Clark was one of the most heralded offensive linemen in the national class of 2017 and his future at the college level has already begun. As a spring semester enrolle and early high school graduate out of St. John Vianney High School (Homdel, N.J.), Clark has been on the Rutgers campus since mid-January.
“It’s been great getting used to the college life and and how to manage all the time you have on your hands by doing the right things; recovering for your next workout and getting your homework done so you don’t miss an assignment,” Clark told Scarlet Nation. “The academic advisors here are on you 24/7.”
Clark committed to Rutgers last April and never once wavered in that commitment.
“It shows I am loyal to my school,” Clark said. “It shows that I have great character and I am really looking for the best for Rutgers and the program we are trying to build here.”
Building Rutgers back into a bowl team is going to take contributions from players like Clark, who could very well see the field as a true freshman this coming season.
“There is no pressure,” Clark said of playing as a true freshman. “You just have to remember to do what you did to get here and don’t forget where you came from.”
Clark was recruited as an offensive lineman, but won't rule out the possibility of switching to defensive tackle.
“There is a chance,” Clark said. “I am willing to do whatever is best for this team. I am looking to start wherever they want me to go.”
Even though Clark comes in as one of the most elite freshman recruits in the country, playing at such a young age in the Big Ten is no easy task.
“It's hard. It's hard for a freshman to come in at any position but the offensive line is even tougher,” head coach Chris Ash said. “The fact that [Micah] was a midyear enrollee gives him a better chance to make that happen because he's going to be here through all of our offseason workouts, spring practice, summer workouts, and he's going to have a head start to get that done.”
One thing that could help Clark immensely is his tremendous athleticism.
“I have always played multiple sports,” Clark said. “It all started in about the fourth grade. I would just try to play baseball, basketball and football of course. Then, I did wrestling when I got into middle school and I did track. Then, I got into high school and I wondered what else I was going to do as a third sport, other than football and wrestling. So I started playing volleyball and I really got hooked into it. It is really a fun sport.”
Clark is currently weighing in at 275 pounds and said he has a goal weight of 290 for the spring and then 300 by the summer.
“When you talk about midyear enrollees, if they are players that you think have an opportunity potentially to help you early on, it's an advantage to get them here early and get a jump start and Micah has been able to do that,” Ash said. “I watch him in workouts, he's very athletic and putting weight on already. We haven't had a chance to do any football stuff with him yet, because we are on the road recruiting. But I'm excited to see what he has to offer once we get a chance to do that.”
And what kind of approach is Clark taking to all of this?
“I approach it like I have to do the right thing in the weight room. I have to do the right thing in the classroom so I am eligible to play,” Clark said. “I am not taking anything lightly. I just want to give great effort and have a great attitude.”