5/15/2015 football Edit

Clark Explains

Jake Reuse

Staff

AMERICUS, Ga. - With Georgia and Auburn coaches looking on, four-star defensive

tackle Tyler Clark announced his commitment to the Bulldogs, donned a "G" hat,

and those around him released red and black balloons.

"It was hard," Clark said afterward. "I didn't know what to do. It was a

gametime decision. It came down to Georgia, Auburn, and Clemson."

So, how did the Bulldogs manage to pull it off? By making the 6-foot-3, 290

pound lineman feel like one of their own.

"When I go there, they treat me like I'm already there, so it's like home,"

Clark said. "(Coach Tracy Rocker) treats me like I'm his own son already.

They've told me I can be a big impact to the team."

Coaches went well beyond recruiting the rising senior, as his mother, Angel

Clark, was complimentary of their work, as well.

"They've been excellent," Mrs. Clark said. "I've been working with Coach Rocker

and Coach Kevin Sherrer. I was very impressed. They told me the truth,

and they were straight with everything. That was the most important thing. The

most important thing to me is academics. They told me what I needed to hear."

Even so, Georgia fans were not happy to hear that he's going to keep looking

around, including officials this summer.

Clark says don't be worried.

"It's solid," Clark said. "My family is excited. I'm going to see Auburn,

Alabama, Clemson, LSU, and Tennessee for officials.

I'll be at Dawg Night."

His mother echoed those sentiments.

"Georgia is his dream school," Mrs. Clark said. "He's got an open commitment and

everything, he's going to take his official visits, but it's something that he

always dreamed about as a child. You always go where your heart is. I'm just so

happy. I'm so excited. I can't believe it's real. It's a blessing. I think

Georgia is the place."

The open commitment certainly isn't stopping the big lineman from hitting the

recruiting trail for the Bulldogs, either.

"I'm fixing to start recruiting tonight," Clark said. "My first target is Julian Rochester."

As for what fans can hope to get from the Americus native, he was brief.

"I'm a beast," Clark said. "That's it. That's all they need to know. A beast is

coming.

Mom provided a bit more insight into her son, however.

"He's quiet, humble, to himself, country, and he loves to eat."