Clark Earns 2026 Virgil Cheek Award
June 03, 2026 | Football
SPRINGFIELD -- Former Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark (Rockwall, Texas) was announced today as the recipient of Missouri State's historic Virgil Cheek Award.
The Virgil Cheek Award is bestowed annually to the university's graduating male student-athlete best demonstrating high qualities in scholarship, character, attendance, leadership and athletic performance. The award has been presented annually since 1955 and is named in honor of the long-time Missouri State University faculty athletics representative and business faculty member.
Clark earned All-Conference USA honorable mention accolades in his final season at Missouri State and was a two-time CUSA Offensive Player of the Week in 2025. He led Conference USA in pass efficiency (156.89) and finished second in CUSA in passing yards per game (270.3) and total offense (209.00). He completed 247-of-376 passes for 3,244 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior while leading the Bears to 7-6 record and first-ever FBS bowl game in the club's inaugural CUSA season. He earned Offensive MVP honors in the inaugural American Bowl collegiate all-star game and signed NFL free agent contract with Las Vegas Raiders in April.
Nationally, Clark ranked 12th in the FBS ranks in passing TDs, 14th in pass efficiency and 15th in passing yards per game. He broke Bears career records for TD passes (64), completion percentage (.673), 200-yard passing games (23) and pass efficiency (164.34) while ranking No. 2 in program history in completions (584), passing yards (7,936) and total offense (7,912).
He earned a graduate certificate in Management from Missouri State in December of 2025 after previously completing his undergraduate degree in Marketing Management from Mo State in December of 2023 and his Master's in Business Administration (M.B.A.) here in May of 2025.
Clark is the first football player to earn the award since Dylan Cole (2017) and was joined on this year's ballot by fellow finalists Chris Bedsole (swimming & diving), Taeg Gollert (baseball), Harry Jolley (soccer) and Michael Osei-Bonsu (basketball). Voting for the award was conducted by Missouri State's six men's head coaches.
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The Virgil Cheek Award is bestowed annually to the university's graduating male student-athlete best demonstrating high qualities in scholarship, character, attendance, leadership and athletic performance. The award has been presented annually since 1955 and is named in honor of the long-time Missouri State University faculty athletics representative and business faculty member.
Clark earned All-Conference USA honorable mention accolades in his final season at Missouri State and was a two-time CUSA Offensive Player of the Week in 2025. He led Conference USA in pass efficiency (156.89) and finished second in CUSA in passing yards per game (270.3) and total offense (209.00). He completed 247-of-376 passes for 3,244 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior while leading the Bears to 7-6 record and first-ever FBS bowl game in the club's inaugural CUSA season. He earned Offensive MVP honors in the inaugural American Bowl collegiate all-star game and signed NFL free agent contract with Las Vegas Raiders in April.
Nationally, Clark ranked 12th in the FBS ranks in passing TDs, 14th in pass efficiency and 15th in passing yards per game. He broke Bears career records for TD passes (64), completion percentage (.673), 200-yard passing games (23) and pass efficiency (164.34) while ranking No. 2 in program history in completions (584), passing yards (7,936) and total offense (7,912).
He earned a graduate certificate in Management from Missouri State in December of 2025 after previously completing his undergraduate degree in Marketing Management from Mo State in December of 2023 and his Master's in Business Administration (M.B.A.) here in May of 2025.
Clark is the first football player to earn the award since Dylan Cole (2017) and was joined on this year's ballot by fellow finalists Chris Bedsole (swimming & diving), Taeg Gollert (baseball), Harry Jolley (soccer) and Michael Osei-Bonsu (basketball). Voting for the award was conducted by Missouri State's six men's head coaches.
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