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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Hudson Clark, SAF, Arkansas

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Hudson Clark, SAF, Arkansas
Hudson Clark the standout safety prospect for Arkansas is a player to keep an eye on in the 2024 NFL Draft. Ryan Vidales of the Hula Bowl breaks down his film.

Player Data

Name, Jersey #Hudson Clark, #17
School (Code)ARUN
DOB, Class YrN/A, Fifth-year Senior.
Height, Weight6016e, 182e
40 Yd Dash4.50e
Position/DepthSAF, #1
Honors/Captainship2022 First Team All-SEC (USA Today)
Season Viewed (yr)2022, 2023
Games WatchedUTBY, NCWE, LAST (2022), @MOUN (2022)
Scout Name / DateRyan Vidales 9/18/23

Per Year Stats

20233 GP (1 GS), 5 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU
202213 GP (10 GS), 67 Tkls, 4.0 TFL, 1 INT, 2 FF, 12 PBU
202112 GP (4 GS), 22 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU
20208 GP (7 GS), 47 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 3 INT, 6 PBU

Player Summary:

Fifth-year senior and former walk-on with a tall, slight frame, an athletic build, and decent length. An intelligent, heady, and opportunistic defensive back who exhibits high-quality DB instincts, route recognition, and awareness. High FBI is visible pre and post-snap. Maintains strong mental & eye discipline to diagnose plays from the safety spot. A leader in the secondary who communicates coverages efficiently and displays keen spatial awareness to maintain leverage in zone coverage. Flashes significant straight-line speed, range, and acceleration when covering all three levels of the field. Possesses proficient burst-to-close ability, most notably when tasked with covering the flats from his deep safety spot. Also covers ground efficiently in the backend to stay on top of vertical concepts as a deep safety. Uses reliable ball skills and natural ball reactions to control the catch point on contested and uncontested catches. Appears confident lining up in the box and up on the LOS. Capable run defender with adequate tacking ability; A better tackler behind the LOS than in one-on-one situations in the open field. Intriguing blitz potential off the edge given his impressive burst, initial quickness, and toughness. His skill set and scheme versatility provide him with high upside as a third-down defensive back. Has recorded over 200+ snaps on special teams throughout his time at Arkansas, so his ST versatility will likely be key to his longevity at the next level. Worried about his off-man coverage ability due to a tendency to get caught flat-footed at the top of the route. Will attempt to reroute his man in press-man but will lose track of his man at the top of the route if he does not make any contact off the break. Questionable upside as a man-coverage DB at the next level.

Scheme Fit:

4-2-5 deep safety who can also fill in at the big nickel spot in passing situations.

Power Statement:

Clark is an instinctive, intelligent, and position-versatile defensive back with prominent awareness, play diagnosis ability, and ball reactions to mitigate explosive plays from the opposition. 

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