From Wildcat to Spartan to Hall of Fame: Donavon Clark’s Journey of Strength, Spirit, and Heart
During his Finneytown High School years, Donavon Clark's personality made him a big man on campus with his infectious smile, bellowing laugh, and positive demeanor. And, by the way, Donavon (Class of 2011) was also physically the biggest man on campus. Standing at six feet-four inches tall and more than 300 pounds, Donavon was a celebrated Finneytown football player and record holder in the shot put.
As an offensive lineman, he was unusually agile for a big man. He couldn't be missed on the field, and his size, quickness, and adroit technique allowed him to blow open big holes in the opposing team's defense. Watching from the hometown bleachers, Finneytown fans could sense this Wildcat was going places.
And they were right. His football seasons at Finneytown culminated in first-team All-Ohio honors. Ranked among the best high school linemen in the nation, Donavon and his family evaluated 21 full-ride scholarships to play college football.
He picked the powerhouse Michigan State University (MSU) Spartans.
Finneytown folks eagerly checked the national TV listings for MSU, which had one of the top college football programs. As it turned out, the Finneytown kid would be in the thick of some of the most thrilling college games of the 2013-2015 era.
During his sophomore year, Donavon played all 14 games, including a career-high five "knockdowns" (dominating a defensive lineman) against South Florida. The Spartans went 13-1 overall during that 2013 season, and beat Ohio State University (OSU) in the Big Ten Championship. In the Rose Bowl, the Spartans beat Stanford 24-20 in a thriller. "I feel like there's a presence on the field," Clark told the media at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. "When I first walked on the field, I kind of took a step back and just looked up and thought 'Here I am, a kid from a small Division IV school (Finneytown), and now I am in Pasadena.'"
Donavon proved equally durable during the 2014 season when the Spartans went 11-2 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten. He started all 13 games, collected a career-best 67.5 knockdowns, and ranked second on the team with 17.5 dominators (winning individual matchups). Better yet, he played best in big games. In the season finale against Penn State, he tallied a season-best 9.5 knockdowns. On January 1, 2015, in one of the most thrilling Cotton Bowl games ever, MSU rallied from 20 points behind to defeat Baylor 42-41. In the game, Donavon ranked second on the team with 7.5 knockdowns. The 2015 season is considered one of MSU's most thrilling because the Spartans beat OSU in Columbus, Ohio, and won the Big Ten Championship. After losing to Alabama in the College Football Playoffs, the Spartans finished 12-2. Donavon started all 14 games and was named third-team All-Big Ten.
Perhaps the personal greatest thrill of Donavon's college football career was playing week after week in front of his mother, Jacque Clark, who watched from a wheelchair while battling multiple sclerosis. "I learned (from Jacque) that whatever situation you are put in, you've just to keep pushing," Donavon told the media in 2015.
Then the National Football League came calling. Donavon was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. Unfortunately, his pro career was cut short by serious knee injuries, and he was forced to retire. Donavon earned a degree in sociology at MSU. Today, he is building a career in sales and works for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. He and his wife, Elissa, have one daughter, Adrianna.
His work ethic took him on a storied football career and subsequent life in corporate sales. And, he will forever view Finneytown as critical to his journey. "Finneytown taught me a lot about community, mental toughness, perseverance, but most importantly, family," he said. "Finneytown has always held a special place in my heart. I'm a person who has always had the mindset of never forgetting where you come from. We were and still are a small school, but at the time, I didn't care about that because it always felt like home. I grew up with a lot of different people, and that definitely prepared me for life after high school."
While Donavon excelled in memorable college football games, the big man on campus treasures his Finneytown gridiron experiences. "We finally beat Indian Hill in my senior year," he said. "I remember after the game I broke down in tears."
