36   Tyrone Clark
	Class: Senior Hometown: St. Louis, MO High School: Mehlville Height / Weight: 5-10 / 219 Position: LB Experience: 2L

Returns to the lineup after sitting out the 2011 season. Has started 15 of 24 games played in his two seasons at NIU. Enters his junior season with 92 career tackles, 37 solo, 6.5 tackles for losses totaling 37 yards, and 3.5 sacks for minus 31 yards. Has four career interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and six pass break-ups.

2011: Sat out the season. Garnered Defensive Work Team Player of the Year recognition from the NIU coaching staff. Continued to contribute as a member of the work team, where he was named the Offensive Work Team Player of the Week following the Army (9-3), Kansas (9-10), Cal Poly (9-24), Kent State (10-8) and Bowling Green (11-8) games.

2010: Started all 14 games at weak-side linebacker. Led NIU and tied for eighth in the MAC in interceptions with four which he returned for 49 yards and one touchdown. Ranked third on the team in tackles with 78, including 37 solo. Named NIU's Linebacker of the Year and Defensive MVP. Led the team in tackles three times and had at least two stops in every game. Picked off his first career pass and returned it 30 yards in the season opener at Iowa State (9-2). Added a six-yard tackle for loss. Totaled eight tackles with half a sack against North Dakota (9-11). Credited with six tackles at Minnesota (9-25). Named NIU's Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording six solo tackles against Temple (10-9). Led the team in tackles with seven, six solo, against Buffalo (10-16). Earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors and NIU Defensive Back of the Week award after intercepting two passes against Central Michigan (10-23). Made nine stops at Western Michigan (10-30) to tie for team-high honors. Named NIU's Defensive Lineman of the Week after intercepting a pass and returning it 16 yards for a touchdown, and recording two solo stops at Ball State (11-20). Registered four tackles with a seven-yard quarterback sack versus Miami in the 2010 MAC Championships game. Led NIU with a career-best 12 tackles and contributed 1.5 for loss against Fresno State in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl (12-18).

2009: Played in eight games and made his first career start in the International Bowl against South Florida (1-2). Totaled 14 tackles, five solo, with two tackles for loss and two sacks. Added a fumble recovery and one pass breakup. Tallied three tackles, including a sack for a loss of three yards, in his collegiate debut against Western Illinois (9-12). Made a season-high four stops against South Florida. Sacked the USF quarterback for a loss of 20 yards. Collected two tackles each in games against Western Michigan (10-3), Miami (10-24), and Central Michigan (11-27). Also recorded a pass break up against Central Michigan. Forced a fumble on an Ohio (11/21) punt return, leading to an NIU touchdown in the ensuing drive. Recovered a fumble in the Huskies victory at Purdue (9-19).

High School: Named to the Missouri High School Class 6A Defensive All-State Team. Earned first team all-conference honors as a junior and senior. Played safety and running back and helped lead his team to the state championship game and a 10-3 record his junior year. Team captain and MVP recorded 62 tackles, 49 solo, one sack, three forced fumbles and three interceptions as a senior. As a tailback that year, rushed the ball 151 times for 789 yards and eight touchdowns. During his junior year, totaled 61 tackles with three sacks and two interceptions. Ran the ball 104 times for 744 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 218 yards and five scores. Tallied 42 tackles, 30 solo, and two interceptions as a sophomore

Personal: Born Dec. 13, 1990. Son of Gloria Black and Tommie Clark. Family and child studies major. Admires his high school football coach Gary Heyole. Enjoys going to the movies and spending time with his family.

CLARK'S CAREER GAME HIGHS
Tackles: 12, vs. Fresno State (Humanitarian Bowl) 12-18-10
Tackles for Loss: 1.5, last, vs. Fresno State (Humanitarian Bowl), 12-18-10
Sacks:1, three times, last vs. Miami (OH) (MAC Championship), 12-3-10
Int:2, vs. Central Michigan, 10-23-10