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Darion Clark signs with the Chicago Bears

Clark, the former USC basketball player, hung up the basketball shoes in favor of cleats, and joins the Bears on an undrafted free agent contract

NCAA BASKETBALL: FEB 14 Oregon State at USC Photo by Katie Meyers/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You read that headline correctly. Darion Clark signed a contract with the Chicago Bears of the NFL.

His last appearance with the USC Trojans basketball team was during the 2015-16 season and went on to play at Grand Canyon before he hung up his basketball sneakers shortly thereafter, picking up football in the process. Just two offseasons later, he signed a deal with the Bears during the undrafted free agent firestorm.

While at USC, Clark averaged 5.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as he stands at 6’7, 220 pounds, an intriguing frame for a tight end.

Playing football wasn’t really a surprise for those who knew him before his USC days as he was a standout quarterback in Conyers, Georgia at Oak Hill Academy. He played well enough during his junior year that he was an honorable mention for his region’s top player of the year at QB.

He even spent time with Sam Darnold, catching passes from the current Jets QB during Darnold’s pro day.

His big frame and long reach as well as his ability to highpoint the football certainly make him an interesting prospect to watch not just because he’s from USC but because of the translatable skills he offers. We all know how successful some basketball to football transitions can be, especially at the tight end position.

Clark signed a reserves/futures contract with the Bears, all but guaranteeing him at least a workout or a spot on their 90-man roster come fall.

Good luck, Darion! We’ll be rooting for you! Continue to #FightOn!