Former NFL Scout Underwhelmed by Utah Corner Clark Phillips III

Let me start by saying, I don’t know many of these players from a stranger on the streets when I first turn on the game film. There are more prospects than time.

Utah’s Clark Phillips III is someone who has gotten significant first-round play from the NFL Draft Community, which peaked my interest to evaluate him.

Walter Football, Yahoo Sports, CBS, NBC Sports Chicago, Pro Football Network, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, SBNation and Barstool Sports all put first-round grades on Phillips.

Respectfully, they must have been watching different game film than I watched, because in the game film I watched, I was completely underwhelmed by Phillips.

Receivers caught just about everything thrown against him

If you want to see what I am talking about, click on the links below and see for yourself.

Phillips lined up mostly in off-man and zone coverage, but the receivers he was matched up against had a ton of success at his level of collegiate competition.

I can only imagine it being as bad – – if not worse in the NFL.

🚩Phillips played small and looked overwhelmed in coverage🚩

In off-man, a corner has to be able to jet downhill and make tackles after the fact, but Phillips is anything but a sure-tackler.

Phillips is not a form tackler and it is literally hit and miss when it comes to him attempting to make the stop.

Reluctant against the run

Phillips wanted even less to do with run support.

Not only was he a shoddy tackler, but he noticeably shied away from contact.

That is not a good sign on a football resume.

This is about finding players that can help a team win, not finding players who will aide the other team in winning.

To be kind, Phillips reluctantly got involved at times with mixed results.

The big touchdown run by Florida’s quarterback Anthony Richardson speaks for itself.

Phillips showed zero elite or dominant coverage traits

The game film doesn’t lie.

I just write down what the prospects do, and while Phillips showed a smooth back peddle and decent athletic ability, he did not show any dominant, rare or elite traits in these three games.

Phillips lost on two deep balls he was lucky were overthrown against BYU.

He additionally did not show a short-area burst or an extra gear of recovery speed.

What are the positives?

Phillips is best when he uses the field boundaries to help him to stay tighter, whether that be in the end zone or by using the sidelines as help.

He looked like he had a good understanding of his the game by pointing things out pre-snap.

Phillips additionally did a good job of keeping the game in front of him (granted the catches were made most of the time).

#8 (2021) #1 (2022) Clark Phillips III 5-foot-10, 183 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: Undraftable Free Agent (UFA) – Early Fall 2022 Report

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Projected by 30.5% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 26, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: BYU and San Diego State (click to watch games viewed to form this evaluation)

2022 game film reviewed: Florida

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 61 tackles (45 solo, 16 assists), 13 passes defended, 2 INT., 1 forced fumble

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Soft one-gear corner who lacks burst and acceleration. Tended to line up in off-man and some zone. Smooth peddle and can turn and run. Receivers caught about everything thrown in his direction as he gave cushion. Beat at breakpoints. Not a playmaker. Often arrived after the catch. Not a sure tackler coming downhill. Gave up route leverage intermediate and deep. Wanted little to nothing to do in run support. Sometimes aggressively moved out of the way. Showed hesitation at times. Lacks want. Low compete level. Tries to be a bend, but don’t break corner.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Does he play press man coverage?
2. Does he show he can be a playmaker?
3. Can he secure tackles consistently downhill in pass coverage?
4. How does he look against the run?

At this point, Phillips is a hard pass for me.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.