NFL Draft Profile: Jerrod Clark, Defensive Lineman, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

NFL Draft profile scouting report for Coastal Carolina iDL Jerrod Clark

Jerrod Clark
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

#15
Pos: iDL
Ht: 6032
Wt: 334
Hand: 0968
Arm: 3368
Wing: 8200
40: 5.25
DOB: 11/16/1999
Hometown: Dorchester, MA
High School: Brighton
Eligibility: 2023

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One-Liner:

A unique defensive tackle thanks to his versatile athletic profile that displays a mixture of quickness and explosion, all while being the size of a true nose.

Evaluation:

Slender frame for a true nose. Lacks girth in his lower half, fairly high-hipped. Leverages this into cat-like quickness. He explodes off the ball, penetrating the backfield and beating centers/guards across face. Pocket pusher that displays functional play strength as a pass rusher. He threatens pocket depth from the interior, walking guards into the quarterback's lap. He returned in 2022 as a full-time starter, looking to be in better condition and filling out his quads and posterior chain. However, still a rotational piece. Won’t play a ton of defensive snaps and even fewer on down and distance. Leans into the true nose narrative in terms of usage and positional value. It’s all quickness and power and minimal reps won on the basis of technique. He isn’t overly versatile with his hand usage, failing to display a plethora of pass-rush moves. Clark is a unique prospect, given his athleticism. Few one-techniques or true nose tackles display the explosion and quickness he does while still being functionally strong. Questions will arise on positional value and usage at the next level, so showing he’s conditioned and ready to go will be a big part of the pre-draft process for Clark.

Grade:

5th Round

Quotes:

DT Jerrod Clark will get an NFL opportunity on sheer size alone. Won”t be many guys w/ Clarks frame (6032v, 341v, 82 wing) in this draft class. Former TE made a switch to DL & flashes next-level tools.

Jim Nagy, Executive Director of Reeses Senior Bowl via Twitter. 

Background: 

Originally from Dorchester, Massachusetts. Attended Brighton High School. Played at Coastal Carolina University. Decided to redshirt his first year. As a redshirt freshman, he suffered an injury that prevented him from playing in any games. During his redshirt sophomore season, he started eleven games at nose tackle, totaling thirty-one tackles and two sacks. As a redshirt junior, he played in all thirteen games, totaling thirty-three tackles and two sacks. He had an outstanding redshirt senior year, totaling forty-one tackles and 3.5 sacks. Named to the 2022 All-Sun Belt Third Team.