Gophers freshman quarterback Jacob Clark thrived under pressure of big Texas high school games

Jacob Clark has been in big games.

Sure, at the high school level. But not just any old preps team. This was Texas high school football.

The first game Clark ever played at Rockwall High School as a junior was in front of 10,000 people against the defending state champions in Texas' top classification.

"If there was ever a high-pressure moment of high school football, this would be it," Rockwall coach Rodney Webb said. "… And he went out and threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns."

So with Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan in the concussion protocol, if Clark ends up starting at Northwestern on Saturday, he'll be confident for a true freshman.

Clark knows better than most how real "Friday Night Lights" is after transferring in from Overland Park, Kan., where he lived with his mom. He moved in with his father in the Dallas suburb after seeing Rockwall in a high-­scoring playoff game and meeting Webb.

What Webb first noticed about Clark is what most do: He looks like the prototypical quarterback. At 6-5, 220 pounds, Clark is "very physically impressive," according to Webb, who knew even after one spring ball practice that Clark had "the 'It' factor."

Clark has played in only one game this season, leading a scoring drive late in the Maryland blowout on Oct. 26. But he did complete one 39-yard pass in that showing. Webb said Clark has a "big arm" but is also a good decisionmaker, who excelled in Rockwall's college-like system.

The former four-star recruit threw for 6,232 yards and 60 touchdowns in 23 varsity games.

Webb recently had dinner with Clark after attending the Penn State victory on Nov. 9 and said Clark "loves" Minnesota, has made a lot of friends and found great teachers. One is Morgan, who has become a real mentor. The other is Ciarrocca, whom Clark thinks "hung the moon," per Webb.