NFL dream becomes reality

Now, Clarke, a highly decorated offensive guard after wrapping up his career with the Huskies, will spend the coming days preparing to watch the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday night with the first round.

He has fielded phone calls, taken visits and even held individual workouts for NFL teams.

All that’s left is for his phone to ring, whether it be a call from a team drafting him or one from his agent following the draft, informing him that a free agent deal is in the works.

Clarke said there were 16 NFL teams at his Pro Day last month at Bloomsburg.

Linta, who represents several NFL players, including Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and Cleveland quarterback Brian Hoyer, believes Clarke has a 50-50 chance of being drafted.

“If he is not drafted, 100 percent he will be signed five minutes after the draft and that is the worst case,” Linta said.

With the draft being the inexact science that it is, Clarke plans on keeping track of all the offensive linemen who are drafted.

“There are teams calling me wanting to make sure they have a good number to reach me if they do draft me and what backup number they can call,” Clarke said.