Clark Phillips

Pos: CB

School: Utah

Ht. 5’9″ 

Wt. 184

Games Watched: USC, Oregon, Florida

One Liner: Undersized corner who wins with physicality, route anticipation and footwork

Strengths: 

  • Very good competitive toughness. Phillips is an extremely tough, and physical cornerback who will never make a route progression easy for receivers in man coverage. He is handsy and will be pestering receivers consistently in order to disrupt potential completions. 
  • Very good football IQ. Phillips plays with above average football IQ that allows him to anticipate routes well and run them for the receiver. In zone, he plays with good eye discipline which allows him to break on the ball with good timing and flow towards where the ball may be headed.
  • Very good press footwork. Phillips has good press technique and footwork, and while his arms are not long enough to jam, he can be a factor with his technique and fluid hips that keep him in the play regardless of route combinations.
  • Good ball skills. Phillips put up good stats in 2022, notching 6 interceptions and 6 passes defended on the year. While he may struggle with this at the next level considering his size, his production is noteworthy and suggests that his physical and smart brand of football could yield positive returns in the box score. 

Weaknesses:

  • Poor size. Phillips’ size will be the primary trait limiting him from being a stellar cornerback. At 5’9, he will struggle in press situations, and while he will be able to compete consistently throughout the route progression, his ability to compete at the catch point at the next level will raise questions. 
  • Adequate discipline. Phillips’ physical brand of football sometimes does bite him, as he is overly handsy in an effort to make up for lost height at the catch point. His physicality is one of his best traits, but will need to be controlled at times in order to reduce penalties at the next level.
  • Adequate athlete. While Phillips has the fluidity to be relatively scheme versatile at the next level, he lacks the top end athleticism you would expect for his size, as reflected by his combine numbers. 

Overall Assessment:  Clark Phillips III looks like a prototypical slot corner at the next level. He will be scheme dependent due to his size, but players with his frame have had some success at the next level. Phillips plays with great physicality and is a tough football player with his competitive mentality. He has a good feel for route development and can be used in zone due to his ability to break on the ball and eye discipline. He plays with great press technique and can be used in man situations to defend slot receivers. His size will most likely prevent him from being anything more than a slot corner at the next level, but he has a high floor and ceiling in that role in the pros.

Scheme Fit: Nickel/Slot corner in zone or man looks 

Pick Projection: Top 50

Grade: 6.40