Life Changes Have Clark Feeling Good

Life has changed for Arizona State defensive back Kareem Clark in the past year.

Clark, a senior who played in high school at Esperanza, has gotten married, and he and his wife, Amber, have a baby daughter, April. “It has been a really positive factor for me,” Clark said. “My little daughter is pushing me every day to do well. I’ve got to do well because I know that she and my wife are counting on me.”

Clark said there were times last season when he wasn’t at the top of his game.

“I think I wasn’t prepared for every game the way I should have been,” Clark said. “I was too nonchalant at times. But my objective this season is to take care of business every day. I know that I have to be at my best every day.”

Clark believes his new attitude is reflected in his play at cornerback this season.

In the Sun Devils’ opener against Texas Tech, Coach Bruce Snyder was particularly impressed with Clark’s effort, calling him one of that game’s best tacklers. Clark also had an interception in the first quarter, stopping a Texas Tech drive on the ASU 37-yard line.

Clark started three games last season as a junior, but his play was marked by inconsistency.

“I’m studying the game a lot more this season,” Clark said. “Last year I didn’t watch as much film of our opponents as I probably should have. This year I’m studying film more. It seems like the more I know about the game, the easier it becomes.”

Clark, 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, has good speed, and he said he believes he has the ability to cover any of the wide receivers he faces. “I think part of my problem last season was that I was spending too much time watching the quarterback to see what he was going to do instead of watching the wide receivers,” Clark said. “As a cornerback, my main job is to stop the pass, and not let myself get beat.”

Of course, there’s always the danger that one error can lead to a touchdown by the opposition.

“It’s a lot of pressure because most of the time fans only take notice when a defensive back makes a mistake,” Clark said. “They mostly see the negatives and not the positives.”

Clark said he thinks Arizona State’s pass rush has been more effective this season. “That makes my job a lot easier as a defensive back,” Clark said.

Clark had some problems with his feet previously in his college career, but he hopes that is over. “I had ‘turf toe’ two years ago, and then I had to have surgery for bunions in December,” Clark said. “My feet bothered me a lot last season, but now I feel I can go full speed and stop on a dime.”

But Clark said the big difference is his commitment to make the most of his ability this season.

NATIONAL LEADER

Nevada wide receiver Trevor Insley, who played at San Clemente High, is setting a fast early pace among the national leaders in pass receiving.

Heading into the weekend, Insley ranked first in receptions with 30 in his first two games. He averaged 194 yards per game, tied for first.

Insley is in position to challenge the Nevada career record of 4,249 receiving yards set last season by Geoff Noisy, an Irvine High graduate.

Insley has 3,545 yards after catching 14 passes for 212 yards Saturday in Nevada’s 72-10 loss at Oregon. Oregon running back Reuben Droughns, who played at Anaheim High, ran for 110 yards in 18 carries and scored three touchdowns in the game.

NOTEWORTHY

Former Laguna Beach Volleyball Club teammates Carolyn Kittell and Cathy Cook are back playing on the same team this season at Oklahoma. Kittell, who played at Laguna Beach High, transferred after playing her freshman season at Cal State Fullerton. Cook, who played at Irvine High, transferred from Portland. Both were named to the all-star team at the recent Cal Poly San Luis Obispo tournament. Kittell leads the Sooners in assists, digs and hitting percentage. Cook leads the team in blocks and is second in hitting percentage.

Long Beach State middle blocker Tayyiba Haneef of Laguna Hills has been impressive in the 49ers’ first seven matches this season. Haneef leads the 49ers in kills with an average of 3.31 per game. Her hitting percentage of .377 also leads the team, and she ranks second in blocks with an average of 1.15 per game. She had a career-high 21 kills against USC.

Suzanne Shaw, a senior outside hitter for Hofstra, has made a successful return to volleyball competition this season after shoulder surgery last spring. Shaw, a former Capistrano Valley High standout who led the Long Island, N.Y., school in digs last season with 424, helped her team finish third in the recent UC Irvine Invitational.