Don Clark (born December 27, 1936) is a former all-star running back in the Canadian Football League. Clark played his college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Playing from 1956 to 1958, he was a member of their 1957 Rose Bowl victory and national championship. An All-American, he was drafted in the first round by the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...

, even though he was injured. Clark eventually signed with the

Ottawa Rough Riders The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. Formerly one of the oldest and longest-lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine ...

in 1959. After rushing for 343 yards, he couldn't agree on contract terms with Ottawa, and was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who promptly dealt him to the Montreal Alouettes. Clark was part of a Lark's backfield which also included George Dixon. He rushed for 902 yards in 1960 (Dixon had 976) and 1143 yards in 1961, when he was selected as an Eastern All Star. Injuries took their toll during his last two years, as he played only 12 games and rushed for 435 and 447 yards (while Dixon won the MVP award rushing for 1520 yards.) Clark retired in 1964, only 27 years old, due to knee, rib and kidney injuries.
CFLAPEDIA - Don Clark

References

1936 births Living people African-American players of Canadian football All-American college football players Montreal Alouettes players Ohio State Buckeyes football players Ottawa Rough Riders players Sportspeople from Akron, Ohio 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American sportspeople {{Runningback-1930s-stub