Fullback, Cincinnati
Bengals
Age: 23 (Nov.
8)
College: Bethune-Cookman
Height: 6’2” Weight: 245
Prelude:
Charles
“Boobie” Clark played tight end in college but, chosen by the Bengals in the 12th
round of the 1973 NFL draft, was shifted to fullback, a position he had played
in only one game collegiately. Cincinnati was in need of a heavy-duty power
back and, despite Clark’s inexperience at the position, he moved into the
lineup. He teamed well with veteran HB Essex Johnson and both nearly reached
the thousand-yard rushing threshold.
1973 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 254
[8]
Most
attempts, game - 28 (for 112 yds.) vs. Pittsburgh 10/14
Yards – 988 [8]
Most yards,
game – 112 yards (on 28 carries) vs. Pittsburgh 10/14
Average gain
– 3.9
TDs – 8 [6,
tied with Vic Washington & Larry Brown]
100-yard
rushing games – 2
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 45
[11, tied with Isaac Curtis & Mike Siani]
Most
receptions, game – 10 (for 68 yds.) at Pittsburgh 10/28
Yards – 347
Most yards,
game - 68 (on 10 catches) at Pittsburgh 10/28
Average gain
– 7.7
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 8 [15,
tied with Walt Garrison & Vic Washington]
Points – 48
Postseason: 1 G (AFC Divisional playoff at Miami)
Rushing
attempts – 7
Rushing yards
– 40
Average gain
rushing – 5.7
Rushing TDs –
0
Pass
receptions – 2
Pass
receiving yards - 18
Average yards
per reception – 9.0
Pass
Receiving TDs - 0
Awards & Honors:
AFC Rookie of
the Year: UPI, NEA, Sporting News
Bengals went 10-4
to finish first in the AFC Central. Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Miami
Dolphins (34-16).
Aftermath:
A broken arm
limited Clark to eight games and 312 rushing yards in 1974. He came back to run
for a club-leading 594 yards and catch 42 passes for 334 more yards in ’75. Clark
followed up with 671 rushing yards in 1976 but lost his starting job to rookie
Pete Johnson in ’77. After one more year as a backup in 1978 Clark was waived
and, while he caught on with the Houston Oilers, saw scant action in his last
two seasons. For his career, he rushed for 3032 yards (2978 with Cincinnati)
while averaging 3.8 yards per carry and scoring 26 touchdowns. Clark also
caught 157 passes for 1197 yards and another two TDs.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
