Don Clark (Canadian football)

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1936)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox CFL biography

| name = Don Clark

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|12|27}}

| birth_place = Akron, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| team =

| number =

| status = Retired

| import = yes

| position1 = Running back

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 190

| college = Ohio State

| NFLDraftedYear = 1959

| NFLDraftedRound = 1

| NFLDraftedPick = 7

| NFLDraftedTeam = Chicago Bears

| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1959}}

| playing_team1 = Ottawa Rough Riders

| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|1960}}–{{CFL Year|1963}}

| playing_team2 = Montreal Alouettes

| career_highlights =

• National champion (1957)
• Second-team All-American (1957)
• 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1957, 1958)
• Second-team All-Big Ten (1956)

| CFLEastAllStar = {{CFL Year|1961}}

}}

Don Clark (born December 27, 1936) is a former all-star running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Clark played his college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.{{cite web| url = http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=clarkdon002| title = Don Clark football statistics on StatsCrew.com}} Playing from 1956 to 1958, he was a member of their 1957 Rose Bowl victory and national championship. An All-American, he was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears, even though he was injured.

Clark eventually signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1959. After rushing for 343 yards, he couldn't agree on contract terms with Ottawa, and was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who promptly dealt him to the Montreal Alouettes.

Clark was part of a Lark's backfield which also included George Dixon. He rushed for 902 yards in 1960 (Dixon had 976) and 1143 yards in 1961, when he was selected as an Eastern All Star. Injuries took their toll during his last two years, as he played only 12 games and rushed for 435 and 447 yards (while Dixon won the MVP award rushing for 1520 yards.) Clark retired in 1964, only 27 years old, due to knee, rib and kidney injuries.[http://www.cflapedia.com/Players/c/clark_don.htm] CFLAPEDIA - Don Clark{{better source needed|date=October 2019|reason=Not clear how much editorial control is in effect at CFLAPEDIA because they appear to really on submissions from readers for their information}}