Slain NYS Trooper was all-star athlete, eyed the Buffalo Bills

New York State Trooper Nicholas F. Clark, 29, of Troupsburg was shot and killed in the line of duty this morning. Trooper Clark had responded to a suicidal man on Welch Road in Erwin, Steuben County. (Original story here) Here is some background information provided by Alfred University:
Nicholas ‘Nick’ F. Clark ’11  Nick earned his BA in environmental studies and was on the football team. He came to Alfred after a year at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, where he received a wrestling scholarship. He had been two-time state wrestling champion and a football standout at Canisteo-Greenwood Central High School. Nick wanted to be closer to home and chose Alfred University, where his mother,Theresa Gunn ’69, ’98 was on the College of Business faculty. Nick excelled on the football team; he received Empire 8 College Athletic Conference Merit Award and All American Honors Award. He broke the AU career record for tackles his senior year, three-time Empire 8 all-conference First Team, two-time conference Defensive Player of the year and was name an American Football Coaches Association Division III All-American.  In 2012, Nick was invited to participate in a Buffalo Bills minicamp for unsigned free agents. From a FB article:

Alfred University

May 2, 2012 · 

Nick Clark (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood), a former All-American linebacker on the Alfred University football team, has been invited to participate in a Buffalo Bills mini camp for free agents.
Clark, who wrapped up a record-setting career with the Saxons last fall, was not chosen in last weekend’s NFL draft, nor was he signed to an undrafted free agent contract. But he’ll have a chance to impress coaches with the Bills when the team holds its mini-camp for unsigned free agents, beginning Thursday, May 10.
On April 29, the day after the NFL Draft concluded, Clark’s agent Chris Turnage, received calls from representatives of the Bills and the St. Louis Rams inviting Clark to attend their mini-camps. Clark chose to accept the Bills invitation, in part because of the proximity to his home, but also because of the team’s prior evaluation of his abilities. "I ranked pretty highly on their pre-draft board," he said.
Clark said he’ll be at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park May 10-13 for the mini-camp, which will include undrafted players and those not signed to free agent contracts. Unlike the pre-draft combine he attended in Akron, OH, in early March, where players are evaluated on speed, agility and strength via a series of non-contact drills (40-yard dash, broad- and high jump, i.e.), the mini-camp will focus more on on-field drills aimed at evaluating players’ abilities at their position, in Clark’s case linebacker.