Clark Barrington 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• Fifth-year junior 

• Multi-sport athlete in high school (basketball)
• Parents were both athletes in college; father (Shawn) played baseball and mother (Jacque) played basketball

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Power run scheme with high volume of PA half-roll outs. 
• 2022 projected role: Starting LG

Pros: Clark Barrington has several years of starting experience at the collegiate level and has served as a staple of the Cougars’ offensive line over the last few years. The inside zone and gap concepts the Cougars implemented offered a great look at his best qualities—he’s proficient in the run game and offers effective vertical and horizontal push to create creases and voids in the front. As a pass protector, Barrington offers a big frame and effective influence. Defenders who test him directly into his set will find him difficult to collapse. I thought he did well in climbs to the second level as well, offering enough mobility and range to pick off linebackers and ensure running creases are set for his back to carry through for chunk gains. He takes good angles in these instances, coming off of the line of scrimmage or parlaying out of combo blocks.

Cons: The physical play style is a notable asset for Clark Barrington but I do feel as though it needs to be harnessed in close quarters. I did not see a high-level functional athlete and more dynamic interior defenders appear well positioned to challenge him with quickness and test his ability to slide his feet and set quickly. To compensate for general foot speed, I did note occurrences of overextending himself and allowing his weight to roll forward, getting top-heavy and leaning to contact. Those instances further compounded his athletic ability and prevented recovery. The level of competition question does loom as well; the Cougars have not faced a significant level of quality interior defensive linemen over the last few seasons. The good news is that the Cougars’ schedule steepens significantly this year with games against Oregon, Baylor, Notre Dame, Arkansas, and Stanford all on the schedule.

Clark Barrington NFL Draft Scouting Report by Kyle Crabbs