Hard-nosed Syracuse lineman Matthew Clark brings a wallop and intensity to the football field

The first time Syracuse two-way lineman Matthew Clark met University of Nebraska assistant football coach Barney Cotton, he — like everybody else — was in awe.

After all Cotton, a former Husker lineman himself, had been an assistant coach for Frank Solich and Bo Pelini through the 2003 season, and then again when Pelini took over the reins to Husker Kingdom in 2008. In other words, Cotton is legendary in the Cornhusker state.

"It was pretty mind-blowing," Clark recalled of being singled out by the long-time Husker assistant. "Coach Cotton is tall, and everybody knows who he is. I was in class, and I saw coach (Rick Nordhues) go by, and then I saw coach Cotton. My eyes got real big when coach came in and pulled me out of class.

"(Coach Cotton) just told me to keep working hard and to stay in touch."

Clark took those words to heart, and has remained vigilant in both regards. Early in his prep career, Clark declared the Rockets weight room his second home, transforming what he considered to be his smallish 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame into a svelte 6-5, 295-pounds.

A first team Super-State lineman in both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star a year ago, Clark keeps a constant wire open to the Husker coaching staff, despite not being tendered an official offer as of yet.

Ohio University, coached by Solich, and the University of South Dakota have both made offers to Nordhues' offensive guard/defensive end, while Wisconsin has come calling for his services as well. But like Nebraska, the Badgers have yet to make an offer.

"I'm just looking to go wherever," Clark said. "I went to (the University of) Wyoming last weekend and that was a pretty good experience.

"First of all, the school that I pick will have to have a really good engineering program. And I want to go play for a school that has a reputation for getting wins. I would like to play D-1 if that opportunity is there."

While Clark's future is of utmost importance to his coach, Nordhues admitted that there have been some perks for himself and for Syracuse high school due to all of the attention his prized athlete has received.

"It's been interesting, for me, to get to talk to some of these coaches," Nordhues said of Clark's recruitment. "I've been able to learn a lot. It's been fun for the school too. I think it's brought energy to the school.

"Matt is a very humble guy. He has received a lot of attention, and yet, he does not see himself as being any better than anybody else. Those people are out there and they're special people. They have a lot of talent, but they still care for those around them. He's one of those guys."

When a skilled player gets the ball in his hands, and tucks it away, his natural instinct is to avoid contact if at all possible. But when Clark gets involved in the fun, contact is a necessity.

The two-time defending Class B heavyweight wrestling champion can't help but get drawn into contact.

"Games are won in the trenches," Clark said. "And I get to hit people on every play. That's what I do. I hit people.

"I'm a hard-nosed player. I like to pull and I like to hit. I have a pretty good motor, and I can play the whole game if coach needs me to. I just love to play the game of football and help my teammates."

Whether he's in practice or competing in a game, Clark often raises the intensity of his teammates. Having been a part of the program for more than three years now, Clark understands the importance of leaving it all on the field every day.

"I think I bring a lot of intensity to the practice field," he said. "A lot of kids don't really care much for practice. They come in, dragging from a long day in school. I just try to get them fired up and ready to play the game of football."

Despite suffering a 30-29 season-opening loss to Bishop Neumann Friday, the Rockets seem like a good bet to make their 13th straight trip to the Nebraska state football playoffs at season's end.

A year ago, Syracuse began the year with nine straight wins and a district championship before falling 25-21 to Columbus Lakeview in the second round of the Nebraska Class C-1 state football playoffs to end the season at 9-1.

For Clark the disappointment was short lived. Soon after the final horn sounded, he and his Rocket teammates began preparations for this fall.

"We went right into the weight room," Clark said of the Rockets, who return five starters on each side of the ball. "We worked hard and we went to camps at Boystown and here at Syracuse. I think we should be solid.

"We have some good experience coming back, some good size up front and two really good running backs. We are going to be strong. Our linebackers fill hard and we will be able to cover the pass. I think we can get to seven, eight or nine wins, hopefully more, and have a real successful season."

A year ago, Clark was called on to run the football out of a package Nordhues called ‘Jumbo'. In most cases, Clark, who lines up at fullback, was utilized as a blocker. But on one occasion, Nordhues called for a fullback dive — to Clark's surprise.

"I said, 'but coach, we're in Jumbo,'" recalled Clark of the play in which he gained a couple of yards. "He said, ‘I know,' and we ran it. It felt pretty weird."

During his sophomore year, however, Clark did live the dream of every lineman. As he recalled it, there was a huge pile of bodies on the field, and the quarterback got caught up in the middle of the heap.

Clark stripped the ball from the unsuspecting signal caller's hands and raced about 40 yards to pay dirt.

Clark, who has squatted 500 pounds and power cleans in the 250-260-pound range, gave up basketball as a freshman but continues to pursue wrestling. The three-time state qualifier helped guide Syracuse to Class B top 10 finishes in 2012 and 2013 and to a 12th place finish a year ago.

But more importantly, to his future in football anyway, grappling has aided the two-time medalist in so many other ways.

"I'd say it was a pretty good decision," Clark said of the success he's had on the mats. "I think it has definitely helped me on the football field, especially when I need to take people down. It's helped me stay low, and helped me with my balance and my quickness."

Nordhues clocked Clark at 5.3 seconds in the 40-meters, which translates to a 5.1 handheld time. He is so athletic for a big man that Nordhues said Clark could play either guard or tackle in college.

"He's so explosive," Nordhues said. He's not just a big kid. He explodes out of his stance and he explodes off of the floor.

"He really cares for people and he is such a pleasant guy to be around. But when he is on the football field, he has no concern for you whatsoever. When it's time to compete he does his job and he does it right. Then when the game is over, he goes back to being himself again."