The scramble to fill out a class before national signing day can be frantic. As players make decisions leading up to the first Wednesday in February, it can create a domino effect that forces a team to secure a commitment from a prospect in the 11th hour, sometimes one who maybe hasn't even visited campus.
Such was the case with 2017 receiver O'shae Clark. Three days before signing day, he was set to go to Southeastern Louisiana. Now, after the Tigers had a couple spots in their recruiting class open and a need for a receiver, Clark is headed to Missouri.
Like countless unheralded recruits, Clark's biggest hurdle was not proving to colleges that he can play – his tremendous production at the highest level of Texas high school football proved that – but rather his size. Standing 5-foot-8 and weighing only 160 pounds, Clark is undoubtedly one of the smallest recruits an SEC team signed this year. But his prep resume speaks for itself.
At Cypress Springs High School just outside of Houston, Clark was a first-team all-state selection, first-team all-area and was a dynamic big-play receiver. In 10 games, he caught 70 passes for 1,736 yards and 18 touchdowns. His whopping 24.8 yards per reception average was evidence of his game-breaking speed, as was his ability to return kickoffs and punts.
His highlight video is full of big-play touchdown after big-play touchdown. If he can translate that speed to the SEC (as Missouri receivers coach Andy Hill said, his size won't matter if defenders can't touch him), he might turn out to be a nice playmaker down the road for the Tigers.
