Here is the PFF draft profile for UCLA's Kenny Clark, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.
Position fit:
Movable chess piece along the defensive line. May not be prototypical nose tackle, but can do work there in subpackages. 3-4 defensive end may be his ultimate home.
Stats to know:
Finished fifth in the nation with a +34.1 run grade in 2014 and finished 21st in 2015 at +23.0
What he does best:
• Plays with good leverage, can handle every kind of block
• Good block recognition, rarely handled by same kind of block twice. Sees blockers coming from all angles
• Can beat the cut block, get down the line of scrimmage
• Will explode into blockers and disengage quickly to make plays
• Quick hands allow him to shed down/back blocks quickly
• Often recognizes the double team in time to anchor down
• Good at working laterally off blocks in the run game
• Can push the pocket with the bull rush (44 percent of his pressures)
Biggest concern:
• Can get moved at times when looking for the ball in the run game
• Double teams will move him off the spot
• While he’s good at seeing blocks, he’ll often retreat from line of scrimmage to shed, opening up running lanes
• Not great at shooting gaps, will get knocked off balance or blocked out of the play
• Rarely creates pressure other than with bull rush
Player Comparison:
Randy Starks, Cleveland Browns. Starks has been strong against the run in recent years while losing his gap on occasion, very similar to Clark. He’s been an above average pass rusher throughout his career and Clark has a chance to produce at a similar rate.
Bottom line:
Clark is yet another strong interior defensive lineman in this loaded class. He differentiates himself by his development as a pass rusher last season, and that should give him an opportunity to move outside to a 3-4 defensive end role in the NFL.
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