Lineman speaks up for ASU

NEW ORLEANS -- Jemar Clark wasn't prepared for the question his coach recently asked him.

Earlier this summer, Arkansas State Coach Blake Anderson asked Clark, ASU's senior left tackle, to accompany him to New Orleans. Clark was fine with the trip, but there was a catch. It was for the Sun Belt Conference media day, which meant Clark was going to have to talk. A lot. For an entire day.

"He asked me, 'Are you comfortable with it?' " Clark said Monday at the Superdome. "And I said, 'Coach, not really. But I'll go.' "

Clark's willingness to help Anderson and safety Cody Brown represent ASU at the Sun Belt's annual function to kick off the season didn't come easily. He doesn't like talking in any setting, but as a first-team all-Sun Belt pick and one of five seniors on an offensive line expected to lead ASU's offense, he felt obligated.

"I'm not the guy who can be out there talking a lot," he said. "But, I'm really looking forward to taking over ... a leadership role and giving my opinion and hearing my voice."

Anderson is fine with Clark stepping out of his comfort zone, but ASU's third-year coach will settle for him remaining upright the entire season.

The fifth-year senior from McCrory, one of eight players remaining from Gus Malzhan's 2012 signing class, suffered an ankle injury in last year's season opener against USC, then a dislocated shoulder the next week against Missouri.

He didn't come out of either game, but he sat out games against Missouri State, Toledo and Idaho, then the final two games of the season against Texas State and Louisiana Tech. He missed all of spring practice after offseason shoulder surgery, meaning he hasn't taken a live snap since the Nov. 28 victory at New Mexico State.

"It feels good to be healthy and running around," he said.

Anderson likes it, too.

Clark was inserted into the starting left tackle spot as soon as Anderson arrived. He started 12 games in 2014, then last year was named a first-team all-Sun Belt selection despite playing in only eight games. Anderson understands why, calling Clark an "accountable, dependable guy."

"You don't get a whole lot out of him. He's probably talked more today than he's talked all year," Anderson said. "But, you just know he's going to come to work, he's going to be a leader, and he's going to give you all he's got. And you don't have to have a guy say a whole lot if he's going to do all that."

Clark wasn't alone while missing practice this spring. Left guard Austin Moreton was out while recovering from ACL surgery. Right tackle Joe Bacchus also missed the spring with an injury. That came after a season in which ASU started eight different offensive linemen, three of whom started at two different spots because of various injuries.

Bacchus started games at both left and right tackle. Moreton started games at both left and right guard. And Colton Jackson, a first-team All-Sun Belt pick, started the first five games at right tackle before starting the final eight at right guard.

The group that likely will start with the top offense when practice begins next week -- Clark, Moreton, Devin Mondie, Jackson and Bacchus -- started only five games together last season, all of which were victories.

"Athletically, mobility-wise, out in space and on the edge. It's just a unique group," Anderson said. "We're not huge. We're not overpowering. But we're a very athletic group. We need them to be with as many new parts as we have."

That aspect isn't lost on Clark. He noted without being asked Monday that ASU lost Fredi Knighten -- a two-year starter at quarterback -- its leading rusher and top two receivers from last year's team that scored a Sun Belt-record 520 points.

He likes what he's seen from Chad Voytik and Justice Hansen, transfers who are likely to be the leading candidates for the quarterback job. Clark raved about the speed of newcomer receivers Cameron Echols-Luper and Kendall Sanders. But he knows the experience on the line can make the transition easier on everybody.

"We definitely feel like we're the backbone of the offense," Clark said. "Just staying up, encouraging guys. If something goes wrong, just let them know, 'Hey man, we're here for you. You've got it.' Just being confident in each other and lifting guys up.

"If we're all healthy, I feel like we're not only one of the best O-lines in the conference, but one of the best O-lines in the nation. I honestly feel that and I'll stick by that."

Sports on 07/27/2016