Former Illini LB drafted
Jaguars select Danny Clark in final round of drafts

by Larry Hawley
Senior writer

The Daily Illini

Danny Clark

Thirty hours of hell and 10 seconds of splendor. That was the NFL Draft weekend story of former Illinois linebacker Danny Clark.

After waiting for 244 picks to go by, Clark finally got his call when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the seventh and final round.

Despite the long wait, Clark said that he is happy the way things finally ended up working out on Sunday.

"I love the organization. It's the place where I wanted to go from the beginning," Clark said. "I'm happy that I was able to find a fit as good as this."

Clark became the first Illini linebacker drafted since 1997, when Dennis Stallings was also drafted in the seventh round by the then-Houston Oilers.

"It's a blessing," said Clark's mother, Sheila Davis-Clark. "We are really proud of Danny, and we think that he can contribute and make his presence felt."

The past two days were difficult ones for Clark and his family at home in Country Club Hills, Ill., while they watched other players get taken above Clark.

As the picks continued to go by and his name was not called, Clark, who was projected by some to be a middle-round pick, said that nerves began to build.

"I was very nervous," Clark said. "I didn't go as high as I originally thought that I would, and it was nerve-wracking, but things all worked out in the end."

"Everyone at the house was nervous," Davis-Clark said. "We were all sitting around wondering what was going to happen."

Clark, who lead the Illini in tackles for three years and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention for two years, said he was unsure why he dropped so far.

"It was very surprising," Clark said. "I don't know what happened or what was going on, but I definitely thought I would be taken higher."

"I was very surprised that he lasted as long as he did, but right now that doesn't matter," said Illinois head coach Ron Turner in a statement. "All that matters is what he does for himself in camp and the NFL."

When Clark's name was called as the 245th pick in the draft, Danny, along with the entire Clark family, let out a sigh of relief.

"We wanted to see him go to Jacksonville, and he really seemed to like it," said Davis-Clark. "It's good things worked out."

Along with getting a chance to play for the defensively strong Jaguars, Clark will also get to play with a familiar face. Former Illinois linebacker Kevin Hardy, who won the Butkus Award in 1995, will be Clark's teammate.

"He was one of my idols, so it's a great opportunity for me to play along side of him in the pros," Clark said. "I can't wait."

Drafted ahead of Clark in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Bengals was kicker Neil Rackers, who impressed many coaches during spring workouts.

"I think he will have a strong career in the NFL," Turner said in a statement. "He has a great leg and will be very good for Cincinnati."

Rackers is the first Illinois kicker to be drafted since 1986, when Chris White was drafted in the seventh round by Indianapolis.

"It's a big thing," Clark said. "I told him earlier on after the spring workouts that he was going to go somewhere, and I am so happy for him."

What was a happy ending for Clark and Rackers was a very unhappy one for some of Clark's fellow seniors.

Defensive end Rameel Conner, thought by many as a late-round pick, went undrafted both days. Defensive tackle Mike McGee and cornerback Tony Francis were other Illini who saw their draft bubbles burst on Sunday.

Disappointed for his other teammates, Clark said that what happened to him, Rackers and the other Illini players, demonstrates the randomness of the NFL draft.

"I'm disappointed that more guys weren't chosen. I thought that a lot of guys had a chance," Clark said. "That how the cards fall in the draft."