Clark Phillips NFL Draft

Clark Phillips III

  • CB Utah
  • Junior
  • #93
  • 5'10"
  • 185lbs
  • Prospect
  • Pac-12

Prospect Summary

Clark Phillips III 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

  • 2019 All-USA first-team defense, 2018 All-USA California first-team selection 
  • Four-Star Recruit
  • Originally committed to Ohio State before flipping to Utah 

System: 

  • Scheme tendencies: Mixed coverages with plenty of zone
  • 2022 projected role: Second-year starting CB 

Pros: Clark Phillips III is a quick, twitchy, and explosive athlete that has the athleticism and movement skills to mirror and match routes. His change of direction skills and ability to transition is fluid and rapid. Phillips showcases the ability to be disruptive at the catch point often due to his recovery speed. He displays some intriguing competitive toughness where despite his smaller frame, he is willing to come downhill and battle in space to make tackles. He made his share of impact plays against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl despite a historic offensive output from the Buckeyes. 

Cons: Clark Phillips III is a reactionary defender in coverage with modest anticipatory skills and his coverage isn’t overly sticky. He’s reliant on his recovery athleticism and ideally, he would be more instinctive. Whether it’s zone or man, his coverage can be loose. While Phillips has some scrappy moments, he has reluctant tendencies as a tackler and struggles to get off blocks. The 2021 BYU game is a good example of how an offense forced him to come downhill and make tackles, taking advantage of his lack of size, length, and passive tendencies. Phillips is a smaller corner that doesn’t consistently compete above his weight class and his lack of length shows up at the catch point and as a tackler. Does he have the play strength and size to play out wide? Can he hold up playing closer to the action as a slot corner?

Clark Phillips III NFL Draft Scouting Report by Joe Marino