Ingalls Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Susan Fine says Rasul "Rocky" Clark died Thursday evening. Clark's pastor, the Rev. Anthony Williams of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Robbins, tells the Chicago Sun-Times the 27-year-old was surrounded by family members when he died.
Clark was a junior running back for the Eisenhower High School in Blue Island when his head hit the ground in a tackle during a game against Oak Forest High School.
Clark's neck was broken in two places and he was hospitalized for nine months.
Nonetheless, he graduated high school. Robbins says he had "a will and a spirit beyond human words."
