Of all the obstacles Hawaii offensive lineman Ben Clarke faced — heat-seeking linebackers, growling defensive linemen — none was as challenging and complex as the one he overcame during his sophomore year.
"It was (organic) chemistry," Clarke recalled. "O chemistry was hard. It was terrible. I’m lucky I passed it was so hard."
Clarke got a B for the class, his first non-A at UH.
Entering his senior season, Clarke is widely considered to be the Warriors’ best pro prospect. On Tuesday, UH announced Clarke, quarterback Max Wittek, linebacker Lance Williams and cornerback Ne’Quan Phillips were elected team captains.
As good as Clarke is on the football field, he might be better in the classroom.
He is majoring in biology. His cumulative grade-point average is 3.7. Plan B is medical school.
"I’ve always liked science, and it seems like something I’d like to do," Clarke said.
Clarke committed to UH as a grayshirt in 2011. He paid his own way that fall, taking nine credits to maintain his part-time status and not trigger the start of NCAA eligibility. In January 2012, he joined the Warriors officially, and was placed on scholarship.
That spring semester, Clarke signed up for difficult classes that were geared toward his major.
He figured: "Since it’s being paid for, I might as well get my money’s worth. If football someday doesn’t work out, I can go to med school."
But for now, Clarke added, "football is my first dream."
Clarke, who played tackle at Chatfield High in Littleton, Colo., was moved to center as a freshman in 2012. He had 12 pancake blocks that season, was the high scorer in efficiency among UH linemen, and was named the team’s top offensive player.
After two years at center, he was moved to left tackle last spring.
"It was a little intimidating," Clarke said of the switch. "I felt it took awhile with the learning curve. Coach (Chris Naeole) helped me a lot."
Clarke has started all 37 games of his UH career, remarkable endurance for a lineman who played despite a shoulder injury most of the 2014 season.
"It happened in September," Clarke said of the subluxation. "I taped it up. I had a brace. It hurt, but that’s all right. Almost every game it popped out, and that was terrible."
Clarke was presented with two options: Undergo an MRI then or wait until after the season.
"I decided to wait," said Clarke, who allowed only one sack in 510 pass plays in 2014.
After the season, an MRI showed an injury to the posterior labrum. He had surgery in January. He is expected to be fully healed this summer.
In the meantime, Clarke assists Naeole, working with the linemen during spring practice. Clarke also volunteers to snap during non-contact drills. It has not been determined if Clarke will play tackle or center this coming season.
He has been told he would project to play guard or center as a professional. "I don’t have the height a lot of the tackles have in the league," said Clarke, who is 6 feet 21⁄2.
Then again, he noted, "they thought I was too short to play tackle in college."
During his free time, Clarke will go free-diving on Oahu’s west side.
The water "is usually clear," Clarke said. "It’s a lot of fun. We usually stay out there for a long time, maybe four hours. I’ll miss it when I leave here."
