Oklahoma State University Athletics
How I Got Here: Trace Clark
March 18, 2014 | Cowboy Football
March 18, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. – "How I Got Here" is a series that asks Oklahoma State football players to detail their football background and careers and how they got to where they are now. Today's edition features defensive end Trace Clark from Wichita, Kan.
Defensive End Trace Clark
On why he started playing football
“Growing up, my dad (Steve) had played football. He played for K-State and then went on to the Patriots for a couple of years. We were a football family coming up. I started playing flag football because my parents wouldn't let me play tackle even though all my friends were playing tackle at an early age. They told me that I couldn't because they didn't want me to get started too young and get hurt or anything like that. I actually put the pads on in seventh grade. That was the first time. I played two years in the city Pop Warner league that we had and then started high school ball.”
On how he decided to play defensive end
“My dad was a defensive end; my brother was a defensive end, so I just thought that I should be a defensive end too because I wanted to be like them and like my big brother, who I had watched play high school ball. He was a great defensive end, so I wanted to be like him. I was defensive-minded. I really thought I'd rather be the one doing the hitting than getting hit. I was big enough to play on the line, so I just went straight to defensive end right when I started.”
On people who have influenced his football career
“My dad and brother, but I also have two sisters who went on to play D1 volleyball. Competitiveness has always been a part of my family. I'm the youngest of the four kids, so I've got three great examples of how to handle the whole recruiting process and then moving from high school to college and D1 sports. Being able to watch them and learn from them was very influential in my whole process and my path. I'm glad I had those great examples in front of me.”
On why he chose Oklahoma State
“I chose Oklahoma State because of the feel. I was a pretty late decision. I ended up picking Oklahoma State when Coach Gundy came to my house. I chose Oklahoma State out of all the other offers I had. My final four were Stanford, Iowa, Oregon and Oklahoma State. I liked the family feel at Oklahoma State more than any other place. I took four official visits and when I got to Oklahoma State it really felt like the coaches and the team were a family first and then a team second. That's what I was looking for and that's what I liked. Not to mention, Oklahoma State has an excellent engineering program. That's what I wanted to find in a school.”
On his college career
“I feel pretty good about my career so far. I started playing as a freshman and I didn't get that redshirt year to grow and get better in the weight room, but I did get the experience of being on the field my first year, and then my sophomore year I got a little bit more experience. Going into my junior year, I'm just ready step up and do whatever I can to help my team succeed.”
