Clark Gaines - #21 - RB - Wake Forest - Profile

PRO: "Clark probably had his finest year last season," Michaels said. "He's one of our most unselfish players. Everything he does is team-oriented. When he's not running, he'll go on special teams. In short-yardage situations, he goes to flanker to block for the runner. Clark does everything but play defense and kick. He's a consistent, durable back and a team leader." ... if the Jets gave a comeback player of the year award for 1979, Gaines probably would have been the unanimous choice ...after losing his starting job in an injury-plagued 1978 season, he regained his 1976-77 form when he was the first Jet everto lead the club in rushing and receiving twice ...finished fourth among AFC rushing leaders with a career-high 905 yards, the fifth best season in Jets' history ...fumbled only once in 186 carries ...tied for AFC lead with an average of 4.9 yards per attempt...combined with Scott Dierking for more yards rushing (1,672) than any pair of running backs in Jet history. breaking the mark of 1.635 set by Dierking and Kevin Long in 1978 ...was the only Jet to rush for over 100 yards in a game last year with a career best of 125 at Green Bay. including his longest NFL run, 52 yards. also the Jets' longest in 1979 ... received a game ball plus the Pentax Jets' player of the week award ...also was Pentax winner for his 92-yard effort in win vs. Miami at Shea ...started just three of the first nine games before becoming first string in the final seven ...showed his consistency by leading Jets in rushing in seven of the last eight contests ...did not score a TD all season mainly because he was used as a blocker on short-yardage plays ...finished second on club with 29 receptions ...tied Greg Buttle for runnerup in Jets' MVP voting by teammates ...was cited in The Sporting News as the best running back in the AFC East and also for the most individual offensive improvement in the division ...ranks fifth among Jets' career rushing leaders with 2.378 yards ...was used sparingly behind Kevin Long in 1978when hewas nagged by foot and shoulder injuries ...still appeared in all 16 games and finished third in special teams statistics ...played at the lightest weight of his career. 194 pounds ...worked long hours during offseason and built himself up to 210 for 1979 ...finished third in the NFL in receiving in 1977 with 55 catches, the second best ever by a Jet running back (Matt Snell had 56 in 1964) and the most by a Jet in nine years ...was a Horatio Alger story in 1976 when he was the first rookie ever selected as Jets' MVP after signing as a free agent and barely making the team ...led all NFL rookie runners with 724 yards despite not starting until the seventh game ...set a Jets' season record with four 100-yard rushing games (119 at Buffalo. 109-Washington. 103- Tampa Bay, 102-Baltimore) ... ran for 103 yards at New Orleans in 1977 ...made every NFL all-rookie team and was selected AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year by NFL Players Association ... an intimidating blocker with great balance ... his desire, intelligence and second-effort make up for lack of outstanding speed.

COLLEGE: Might have been overlooked in draft because of injuries ...gained 1,258 yards on 336 carries (3.7 avg.) in two years at Wake Forest...was All-Atlantic Coast Conference and captain as a senior ...outstanding junior college runner at Lees-McRae (Banner Elk. N.C.) rushed for 1,105 yards as a sophomore, second in the nation named NJCAA All-America.

PERSONAL: Wife Kathryn ...daughter Leslie Kia 4...has B.S. in physical education ...served as assistant player representative ... lived on Long Island during offseason and worked-for Census Bureau ... last year helped with Jets' Christmas party for children at Nassau County Medical Center ...also has worked with Special Olympics held two jobs in college while supporting his wife and daughter was born and raised in Elberton, Ga., with six brothers and one sister ...his father died of a lung disease from working in the granite quarries when Gaines was 16...was one of 13 blacks to volunteer to integrate Elbert County High.

From 1980 Jets yearbook.