BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
For a moment on Dec. 20, the cheer at Braford High School transitioned from, “Go Tornadoes, go Big Red,” to, “We are Marshall.”
Green and white was the color of the day as senior Chason Clark signed his letter of intent to play football for the Marshall University Thundering Herd during a signing ceremony in the BHS auditorium.
“After today, we’ll officially be a part of the Herd,” said Sampson Jackson, the Bradford County School District’s athletic director.
Clark became the 19th player to receive a college scholarship since the 2020-21 year and the 10th player during that span to accept an offer from a Division I school.
“It’s definitely awesome,” Clark said. “I’m ready to get up there. I’m excited. It’s going to be a great time up there. I’m ready to work. I’m ready to see all the boys up there — all the other commits I’ve been talking to.”
This marks the second year in a row BHS has had a player graduate early and begin his collegiate journey in January. Manny Covey, an early enrollee at the University of Cincinnati, was the first.
“There are a lot of similarities in those two,” BHS Head Coach Jamie Rodgers said. “Extreme work ethic. They took care of business in the classroom to be able to have the chance to do it. Obviously, when a Division I football program wants you to come in early, that means they see something in you.”
Clark said, “I’m glad that I was able to get it done.”
The 6-2, 200-pound linebacker had additional offers from Army, Eastern Michigan, Georgia Southern, Navy, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan as well as interest from such schools as Florida, FSU, UCF, USF, Louisville, Virginia and Wake Forest. Clark said none of those schools “touched Marshall,” explaining that he loved the atmosphere at the Huntington, West Virginia, school and the bond that exists between the people there.
“It’s such a family up there,” Clark said, adding, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Clark, who verbally committed to Marshall in the summer, said he wouldn’t have imagined the game-day atmosphere that exists there if he hadn’t had the chance to experience it.
“I get up there, and the whole city’s turning up, tailgating like crazy,” he said, adding, “It’s insane up there. It’s like everybody up there just cares so much for that university. You can go up to a random person on the street, and it’s, ‘Go Marshall. Go Herd.’
“It’s awesome to see that kind of camaraderie.”
Clark is coming off a senior season at BHS in which his 134 tackles (20 for loss) set a new school record. He is also the school’s all-time leader in tackles for a career with 337.
Rodgers mentioned three things that led to Clark being such a factor on defense.
“It definitely starts with preparation — knowing what’s coming before it happens,” Rodgers said. “Relentless motor is number two. I’m not sure I’ve encountered him loafing many times. The last thing is he’s a really good tackler. No matter if it was in the open field. No matter if it was in tight spaces. His speed and athleticism are what allowed for that.”
Rodgers listed preparation first, and in talking to Clark, you’ll discover that preparation is at the top of his list, too, when it comes to making the transition to playing college football. Yes, the players are bigger at the collegiate level, but Clark said he believes having knowledge of the game will be one of the most important key to his success.
“You have binders and binders of work. It’s basically a classroom you go into every day,” Clark said. “The meetings are insane. You go up there, and you have to know every sliver of the game. They have packages and packages and packages and packages (of plays, formations, etc.) just so that you can try to win.
“That’s the big thing. Everybody is so much smarter when it comes to (college) football.”
Of course, Clark will be working to get bigger. That just comes with playing at the next level.
“He’s super physical already for a high-school kid, but it’s a different level (in college),” Rodgers said. “Everybody’s the most physical guy on (their high-school) team once they get there. Now, there’s 85 of the most physical guys from their high schools all together at one place. That’ll probably be the biggest adjustment for him.”
Rodgers said Clark will have to work as hard as he’s ever worked in the weight room and prepare to eat a lot.
“He’s getting ready to eat 10,000 calories a day,” Rodgers said. “I’m not sure what he eats now, but it’s probably not 10,000 calories a day.”
As for where Clark will line up for the Thundering Herd, Rodgers said it’ll probably be at weakside linebacker.
“H’’s able to cover the flats. He’s able to match up with the tight end and cover him,” Rodgers said. “They’ll be able to do a bunch of stuff with him.”
Rodgers said Clark is a good football player, but what Marshall is really getting is a good human being.
“I know he’s going to go up there and make a positive mark on everybody he touches outside of football,” Rodgers said.
BHS teacher Grace Johns touched on that during the signing ceremony, describing her first encounter with Clark when she was covering another teacher’s class. Johns said Clark was late to class, but before she could say anything to him about it, he approached her, said, ‘Good morning,’ and apologized.
Johns said she then watched as Clark took his seat and wished good morning to his classmates and asking them how their day was.
“He was asking because he wanted to know and he really cared,” Johns said, adding, “The legacy he’s going to leave at Bradford High School is much more than on the football field. It’s the way he treats people and the person that he is.”
Clark’s desire to help others led to him creating his own organization to do that just — TEN, which stands for “Today, it’s Everything or Nothing” and also refers to his jersey number. As part of TEN, he hosted a youth football camp this past summer.
“That meant more to those kids than I think you’ll ever know and to my kids especially,” BHS Principal Chris Coffey said. “They still talk about that every day. They just want to wear that number-10 shirt every chance they get.”
Dominic Barber, who coached Clark for six years (first grade through sixth grade), spoke at the ceremony, saying how proud he was of what Clark had accomplished and what he will accomplish in the future.
“There’s nothing you can’t do,” Barber said. “I expect big things from you.”
Coffey, who said Marshall is getting a “model” student-athlete, added, “We’re excited about your future. We all know you’re going to be great and do great things. We look forward to that and can’t wait to see what your future holds.”
Bradford Superintendent of Schools Will Hartley said all Clark has to do is to continue to be himself.
“All of the things that made you great on the football field — all of those characteristics — are the things that are going to make you great in life,” Hartley said. “Just keep being you and doing what you do, and we will all enjoy watching you on TV.
“We’re really proud of you.”
All the kind words reminded Clark of what has made Bradford County so special for him.
“I wouldn’t want to grow up in any other community,” he said. “They show so much love. They care.”
Now, it’s time to start working toward making an impact on the Marshall football team. Clark said his first time stepping onto the field as a college player is going to be “insane.”
“I don’t know that I’ll be able to describe it, even after I experience it,” Clark said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
