2022 NFL Prospect Interview: Trent Clark, C, Tiffin

• Name: Trent Clark
• Height: 6’1”
• Weight: 290
• Position: Center
• College: Tiffin University
• Twitter: trinidad_4
• Instagram: longlivedad54

Talk about your experience as a student. What is your major/minor? Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?
Life before COVID was pretty good on campus. I would go to the Gilmore Center and eat lunch, go to the game room and often run into friends. I’ve made connections with a lot of different people. My major is in Health, Fitness and Wellness. I haven’t participated in any other campus activities and organizations besides football.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?
My vocal leadership and attentiveness. I’m the guy that will do everything right, be on time, and pay attention to the small details of tasks. I also try to do my best to motivate my teammates to be the best they can and never quit so that we bring greatness out of one another.

What kind of role do you see yourself in on the team? What scheme and/or position suits your skill set?
I came into Tiffin as a guard and have now solidified the center position. I’ve been a 2-year starter playing both positions. We’ve been through a few different changes with position coaches and staff, and I’ve adjusted to each system, learning the verbiage and schemes. With each staff, we have predominantly run a spread offense. As we line up on each play, I usually have the role of making calls at the line of scrimmage when we call out our defensive assignments.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?
I played against one of the best LBs in our conference in Isaac Miles of Findlay. He came down with aggression and purpose, always primed to make the play.

Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?
I have to begin with our QB Nick Watson. We came in with the same recruiting class and have put in a lot of work together. The biggest thing that impresses me the most about him is his competitive spirit. Nick is a great QB. Yet, he also spends time learning from his mistakes in order for him to be at the top of his game.

I’m also happy to have Charlie Cleveland on our team who’s one of the best pass rushers that I’ve seen. He brings 100% effort 100% of the time. He’s a student of the game and a great teammate. It’s been rewarding to have practiced against him in order to better myself and the team.

Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.
At the beginning of my sophomore season, I was fresh off a great camp and felt that I was going to be the starter at guard. I had a big head and ended up taking a couple weeks off. When I came back, it turned out that the team had picked up a transfer from Toledo at my position. That was a bit of a shock, and I felt like the coaches didn’t like him. I ended up down in the dumps and it took me a couple days to bounce back.

I decided to put my best foot forward and continue to work to gain the starting role. I ended up flip-flopping as the starter at guard. I had been placing the blame on others, although there was a moment after our game against Alderson Broaddus where I owned up to my responsibilities. I spoke to my coaches about my performance, apologized and told them that it would never happen again.

The 2019 season had its ups and downs. The biggest hardship of that year was losing my grandmother. She came to every high school game whenever she had the strength, yet was never able to see me play in college. Football helped me deal with her loss. The coaches were very understanding and I had my teammates to rally with. Focusing on football helped alleviate the pain and deal with my emotions. 2019 turned out to be my breakout season being named first team all-conference, and the 2021 spring season ended up even better being named the Great Midwest Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year.

If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?
I would likely wrestle. I did that all throughout high school and it was fun. I actually ended up going to state a couple times.

What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?
I’m most proud of being part of a successful team here at Tiffin. My biggest personal achievement was winning the Offensive Lineman of the Year Award.

Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.
The opening game of the 2019 season was against Northwood. We were running a QB screen, and I saw the LB backpedaling. I heard Nick yell “Go!”, and the center and I started barreling down the field. I grabbed the LB and flung him straight to the ground getting my first ever solo pancake block. We ended up scoring on that drive and ultimately won that game.

Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?
I’m a big Steelers fan. I try to model my weight room regiment after Aaron Donald. I know he doesn’t play my position, but his level of preparation sets him apart from everyone else in the league. As far as offensive linemen, I try to watch a lot of different players at each position on the line taking what I can from each of them, working on my quickness, point of attack and hand placement.

Who is your favorite music artist? What gets you pumped before a game?
One of my favorite artists is Rio Da Yung Og, and I like to listen to his song called “Movie” before games.

What is your favorite comfort food?

My Mom’s fried chicken, greens and macaroni.

Do you have a favorite movie, TV show or actor?
Two of my favorite movies are “Friday” and “Oh Brother Where Art Thou”. My favorite TV show is “Rick & Morty”.

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Any secret talents?
I’m a laid-back kind of guy. I like to listen to music and watch TV. One of the hobbies/talents that I have is that I cut hair.

Why do you play football? Who or what motivates you the most?
I play for my parents. My father had me when he was about my age and ended up going off to the military, coming back a changed man. My mother works in a hospital day in and day out. My parents have sacrificed a lot for me, helping to pay for my education and being there to support me as a football player. So, every time I am in practice, the film room, weight room or in a game, I think about them. My parents never quit and told me that nothing in life comes easy. So, I’ll never take for granted the opportunities that are in front of me.