NFL Draft Profile: Clark Phillips III, Cornerback, Utah Utes

NFL Draft profile scouting report for Utah CB Clark Phillips III

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#1
Pos: CB
Ht: 5090
Wt: 184
Hand: 0918
Arm: 2918
Wing: 7068
40: 4.51
DOB: 12/19/2001
Hometown: Lakewood, CA
High School: La Habra
Eligibility: 2023

Clark Phillips III
Utah Utes

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One-Liner:

Aggressive despite his stature, Phillips is a fluid cornerback that has the chance to escalate his draft stock if he can round out his game.

Evaluation: 

Diminutive but stalky stature. Plays bigger than his measurables, relying on competitive toughness and bouncy athleticism. Mainly aligned to the boundary, occasionally in the slot. Team has no problem leaving him on an island. Fluid hips and sudden feet. Speed turns effortlessly, mirroring the stem of the receiver. Quickness and juiced feet make reactionary movements on double moves second nature. Always stays square at the snap, showing confidence in his backpedal. Can cross-over run and collapse onto comeback routes, showing effortless transition into his breaks. Shows understanding of zone principles, beautifully stuttering the underneath route in the flats before carrying the boundary as a cloud or cover two corner. Loses his balance on occasion. While his backpedal use is appreciated, the technique is choppy. Must correct his eye discipline. Let multiple touchdowns fly over his head, peaking into the backfield in cover three. Bigger pass-catchers offer true burdens at the apex of the catch point, despite his ruthless nature. Can be easily blocked downfield in run fits, offering little in terms of run support. Phillips will garner a role in the NFL thanks to his athletic traits. He must prove that he is stable enough against bigger receivers to gain the label of a true outside corner. If not, a role in the slot is warranted thanks to his football intelligence and jitterbug movement skills. 

Grade: 

Late 2nd Round 

Background:

Phillips has played in nineteen games at Utah, and he started in all of those. He is from Lakewood, California and attended La Habra High School. Where he excelled as a Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and was a first team all county. After High School, he started in five games for Utah where he made an impact for his team and he improved tremendously in 2021. After his great 2021 season, he will be looked at as a leader in the Utah secondary for 2022. 

Quotes: 

“Utah CB Clark Phillips III is a name to get familiar with. Smooth & ultra-competitive, led the Pac-12 in pass breakups (13) last fall and showcased well against Drake London.”

Ryan Fowler, The Draft Network Via Twitter.

“It may be extremely early in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle, but Phillips has a scouting report that should see him garner attention as one of the top players at his position.”

Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network.