You’ve probably seen the name Clark splashed across every sports headline for the last couple of years. Usually, it's Caitlin. She’s breaking records, hitting logos, and basically changing the entire economy of women’s basketball. But if you head over to Ames and talk to anyone around the Jack Trice Stadium bricks, they’ll tell you about a different Clark. Blake Clark. Blake wasn’t the one hitting 30-footers on national television, but he was the guy holding the ball for every crucial kick during some of the most competitive years in Iowa State football history. He’s the older brother. The "boss," as his mom Anne Nizzi-Clark puts it. And honestly, if you want to understand why Caitlin Clark plays with that terrifying level of confidence, you have to look at the guy who was beating her in 1-on-1 driveway matchups back in West Des Moines.
More Than Just a Backup Quarterback
Being a walk-on quarterback at a Power Five school is a grind that most people can't really wrap their heads around. You do all the work, take all the hits in practice, and rarely see the field on Saturdays. But Blake Clark Iowa State career was about finding a way to contribute when the "star" path wasn't the one open to him.
He didn't just sit on the bench. He became the team's primary holder.
It sounds like a minor role until you're in a night game at Kinnick or facing a ranked Big 12 opponent and the game rests on a snap, a hold, and a kick. Between 2019 and 2022, Blake was the steady hand for the Cyclones. He appeared in nearly 50 games. Think about that. Fifty games of high-pressure special teams snaps where a single bobble makes you the villain of the week. He never bobbled.
One of his most legendary moments—at least in the Clark household—didn't even involve his arm. It was a two-point conversion against Kansas in 2022. Caitlin actually joked later that she was asleep when it happened, but she made sure to rewatch it. That’s the dynamic. Even when your sister is a global icon, you’re still the "old soul" role model who showed her how to outwork everyone.
The Brock Purdy Connection
Here is a fun bit of trivia for the NFL fans: Blake Clark is extremely tight with San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy.
They weren't just teammates at Iowa State; they were best friends. When Purdy was leading the Cyclones to Fiesta Bowl wins, Blake was right there in the QB room with him. Purdy has gone on record saying Blake is one of the smartest football minds he knows. In fact, Blake was even a part of Purdy's wedding party.
It’s kinda wild when you think about the circles this guy runs in. He’s the brother of the greatest female shooter ever and the best friend of a Super Bowl quarterback. But Blake isn't a "clout chaser." He’s a 6-foot-2 industrial engineering major who was named the NFF Iowa Chapter Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Academic Heavyweight
While we’re talking about his time in Ames, we can't ignore the books. Blake wasn't just "passing" classes. He was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection.
- Industrial Engineering: Not exactly a "rocks for jocks" major.
- Leadership: He served as the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
- Awards: He snagged the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, which is the highest academic honor the Big 12 gives out.
Why Blake Matters to the Caitlin Clark Story
People always ask where Caitlin’s "swagger" comes from. You can trace a lot of it back to Blake and their younger brother, Colin. Growing up in the Clark house meant everything was a competition. If you weren't tough, you weren't winning.
Caitlin has admitted in multiple interviews that she talks to Blake almost every single day. He’s her sounding board. When the pressure of being the face of a sport gets too heavy, she calls the guy who used to hold for PATs in Ames. He gives her feedback on her games, sure, but he mostly provides a sense of normalcy. He’s the guy who remembers her as the kid who cried when she lost at Mario Kart, not the WNBA superstar.
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Life After the Cyclones
Blake graduated in December 2022, leaving a massive hole in the leadership department for Matt Campbell’s squad. He was a "program guy"—the kind of player coaches dream of because they set the culture in the locker room.
These days, you'll see him in the stands at Gainbridge Fieldhouse or wherever the Fever are playing. He’s shifted from being the athlete to being the support system, though he’s still doing plenty of analysis. If you catch him on a podcast or a pre-game show (like he’s done for Farmageddon matchups), his football IQ is immediately obvious. He breaks down 12-personnel and defensive fronts with the ease of someone who spent five years in the film room.
Actionable Insights from Blake’s Journey
There's a lot to learn from the "other" Clark sibling, especially if you're an athlete or a student trying to find your lane.
- Value the Unseen Roles: You don't have to be the starting QB to be essential. Being the best holder in the conference is a point of pride and a way to earn a ring.
- Diversify Your Success: Blake knew football had an expiration date. He leaned into Industrial Engineering so he’d have a career that lasted forty years, not four.
- Be a "Culture" Person: Whether in an office or a locker room, being the person people can lean on (like Brock Purdy and Caitlin Clark do) makes you indispensable.
- Family First: Despite the fame surrounding his siblings, Blake has remained the anchor of the family, proving that being a "role model" is about consistency, not just stats.
Blake Clark might not have his own Nike commercial yet, but in the world of Iowa State athletics and the Clark family tree, his impact is just as permanent as any logo-three.
Check out the Iowa State football archives or listen to local Ames sports radio clips from the 2020-2022 era to hear coaches rave about his leadership firsthand. Understanding his "walk-on to leader" pipeline gives you a much better perspective on why that family produces such high-level winners.