McAlester High senior Jordan Clark has an optimistic eye out for the 2025 football season with a new coach calling the shots in Jeff Craig. “Coach Craig was around at the end of the school year during morning weightlifting and we kind of got to know him. Us seniors were a little worried at first about having a new coach in our senior season, but he’s made things pretty smooth so far and I like the changes he’s made so far particularly on defense,” said Clark. Jordan played baseball during the spring, so the new coach didn’t get much face time with him but is still impressed by what he’s seen of the running back/defensive back so far. “I’m impressed with what I’ve seen on tape and in our spring team camps,” said Craig. “His ability to make people miss and then run through tackles is impressive. We need to improve his ball catching skills so we can get him more involved in the passing game this year. On defense, he’s having to make some adjustments. He’s used to back peddling at the snap from the safety spot and then coming up late to help on the run. But in my defense the safeties play in the run alleys and the gaps to stop the run quick, and they are usually the leading tacklers on the team.” Clark rushed for 1167 yards, averaging nearly eight yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns in 2024 and says he prefers playing on the offensive side of the ball. “I like the offense better because I feel like it’s more natural for me and that’s where we make our big plays. I like to pattern my running style after guys I watched growing up like Adrian Peterson and Reggie Bush. They were guys you could always count on to get to the second level and often third level and turn small plays into big ones,” said Jordan. He is one of just a few seniors for the Buffs this year and is one of the team leaders. “I like to set an example by my actions, but I know I’ll need to step up this year and maybe get a little more vocal.” Jordan fondly remembers McAlester’s win over Bishop Kelley last year as a highlight of his career. “I had about 150 yards rushing and got the game clinching interception.” With his senior year still ahead, Jordan has college offers in hand from McPherson College in Kansas, Hendrix in Arkansas and D-II’s Emporia State and should gather some more as this season unfolds.
