Since transferring to Oregon from Butler County (Kan.) Community College for the 2009 season, defensive lineman Zac Clark has emerged as a mainstay on the Ducks’ defensive line. An integral part of a defense that has limited opponents to only 17.2 points per game, Clark currently has 28 tackles and ranks fourth on the team in tackles for loss. The Daily Emerald caught up with Clark after practice this week to check in.
Oregon Daily Emerald: When you were recruited out of Butler County, what were your final choices?
Zac Clark: My final four was here, Louisville, Texas A&M and Boise State.
Why did you end up picking Oregon?
Oregon, just because I felt more comfortable here. I came out on my visit, and the only person I met was LaMichael (James). I came out during finals week, so I didn’t get to meet anybody. But it’s just like everyone says, the facilities and just the family feeling. I hung out with Pat Chung, and he made me feel at home.
Has it been mostly what you expected?
Oh definitely, nothing has changed since the day I got out here. If anything, it’s gotten better.
Talk about how practicing at such a high tempo against this offensive line has helped you develop as a player?
It’s great. We have one of the best o-lines in the nation, and they don’t get as much credit as they deserve. But they do a great job, and so they push us every day in practice to make sure that we’re doing it too. We know if we can handle ourselves against these guys, we can handle ourselves against anybody.
Who is the hardest o-lineman for you to go up against?
They all bring different things. I think Bo Thran and Mark Asper are tough to go in the pass because they have great sets. Jordan (Holmes) is real smart so he knows where he needs to be so that makes him tough. Then Carson (York) and C.E. (Kaiser) just bring good physicality to it.
What’s been the most physical or most challenging offensive line of an opposing team you’ve gone up against in your two years here?
Last year Stanford was a very physical offensive line. They were physical this year, too, but we handled it a lot better. This year, Cal had a pretty physical o-line. It surprised us a little bit.
If you weren’t playing football, what other sport would you be playing?
I’d lose about 50 pounds and go on to be a professional ping-pong player.
What would your style be? Would you be a finesse player, spin, power?
I’m actually more of a finesse, placement-type guy, just get people off balance; that’s my game. Then bring a little power when I need to.
If your coach asked you to fake an injury, what part of the body would you choose to get hurt?
First off, it’d be my pride if I actually did that, but I wouldn’t do that. If my coach asked me to fake an injury, I’d look at him like he’s crazy.
What do you think about teams faking injuries? Do you guys let it get to you or do you laugh it off?
We’re not sure if they’re really faking. We’ve seen the videos. I’ll tell you what, at Cal, in the fourth quarter when we were going on that long drive, we had about five of us on the sidelines that were faking our own injuries, just to lighten up the situation. I don’t know if they’re faking, what they’re doing, but we handle it and play on.
What’s been the most surprising thing about your two years here?
I was surprised how much of camaraderie we have here. It’s like the family that everyone talks about. We get mad at each other in practice; we get mad at each other whenever. But as soon as we step off the field, we’re right back to being who we are.
What’s been your most memorable moment if you had to pick one?
If I had to pick one, it would be Halloween evening last year when we beat USC, just because of how loud the stadium was and the crazy atmosphere.
Do you know what you want to do after Oregon? Do you want to continue your football career?
I’ll see how far football takes me. It’s been fun and I’ll continue, see where I get, and after that, we’ll see.
Any idea what you’d like to do when football is over?
Either get into coaching myself or I think that probation officer, something like that, would be an interesting and beneficial career.
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