Honors & Awards
- Two-Time All-Big Eight (1988, 1989)
- NU Junior Single-Game Rushing Record (256 Yards vs. Oklahoma State, 1988)
- No. 5 on Nebraska's Career Leading Rushing List (3,037 Yards, 1987-89)
- No. 5 on Nebraska's Single-Season Rushing List (1,497 Yards, 1988)
- Eighth-Round Pick of Indianapolis Colts in 1990 NFL Draft
Senior (1989)
A three-year letterman at Nebraska as an I-back for Coach Tom Osborne’s Cornhuskers from 1987 to 1989, Ken Clark ranks fifth on NU’s all-time rushing list with 3,037 yards. In his career, Clark carried 494 times, averaging better than 6.1 yards per carry, while scoring 29 touchdowns.
In his final campaign at Nebraska, the Omaha native posted his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,196 yards and 12 touchdowns on 198 carries. He ranked second in the Big Eight with 119.6 yards per game, which also ranked 11th nationally. He finished his career with a dozen 100-yard rushing days, including five as a senior with a season-high 177 yards vs. Kansas. He added 168 yards against Northern Illinois, 166 against Kansas State, 130 against Utah, 125 vs. Missouri and 100 against Minnesota, to help the Huskers to a 10-2 record and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
The two-time All-Big Eight selection missed the Iowa State game with a minor injury. He capped his career by rushing 16 times for 86 yards against Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Following his senior season, Clark was chosen in the eighth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent the 1990 and 1991 seasons with the Colts.
Junior (1988)
As a junior in 1988, Clark posted the fifth-best single-season rushing total in Husker history with 1,497 yards and 12 touchdowns on 232 carries. Clark’s total included the best single-game effort by a junior in NU history and the third-best day overall by a Husker, when he rolled for 256 yards and three scores on 27 carries in NU’s 63-42 win over Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders and Oklahoma State. Clark’s record-setting day included a 73-yard TD run on the first play from scrimmage.
Clark ranked fifth nationally by rushing for 124.8 yards per game as a junior and trailed only Sanders' 238.9 yards per game among Big Eight running backs. In addition to his 256-yard performance against OSU, Clark erupted for 225 yards and one score on just 20 carries in a win at Kansas, which ranks as the 13th-best rushing total in school history. He added 167 yards in NU's 7-3 Big Eight title-clinching victory against Oklahoma to earn a spot in the 1989 Orange Bowl. He also contributed 165 yards and the game's lone score in a 7-0 win over Colorado. He pitched in 146 yards in the snow at Iowa State.
Sophomore (1987)
Nebraska's fifth-leading rusher, Clark managed 344 yards and five touchdowns on 64 carries. He played in the first eight games of the season before being sidelined with a knee strain. He shared reserve duties with Tyreese Know behind starter Keith Jones. Clark produced his top game of the season with 83 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries in a 35-0 win over then-No. 12 Oklahoma State. He added 58 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas.
Redshirt (1986)
Clark redshirted after participating on Nebraska's freshman team in 1985.
Freshman (1985)
Clark shared I-back duties on the freshman team with Tyreese Knox. Clark rushed for 338 yards and two touchdowns on 58 carries in five contests.
Before Nebraska (Omaha Bryan High School)
Nebraska's first-ever recruit out of Omaha Bryan High School, Clark was an all-state selection for Coach Tim Bond. Clark earned the honors despite missing the middle of his senior season with a lower leg injury. Clark chose Nebraska over Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas State.
Personal
The son of Carolyn Clark, Ken was born on June 11, 1966, in Evergreen, Ala. He was a human development major at Nebraska.
Clark's Career Statistics
Year
G/S
Att.
Gain
Loss
Net
Y/A
Y/G
Long
TDs
1986
Redshirt
1987
9
64
356
12
344
5.4
38.2
28 vs. OSU
5
1988
12
232
1,535
38
1,497
6.5
124.8
73 vs. OSU
12
1989
10
198
1,221
25
1,196
6.0
119.6
47 vs. N. Ill.
12
Totals
31
494
3,112
75
3,037
6.1
98.0
73 vs. OSU
29
Kickoff Returns: 6-135-0 total, 1987
1989 Orange Bowl: Rushing, 14-36-0
1990 Fiesta Bowl: Rushing, 16-86-0