Senior Bowl interview: S Bud Clark

The Arizona Cardinals will need some help during the offseason to help the defense. Does the defensive line need a body or two? Is the linebacker room good? What about the defensive backfield?

The Cardinals’ safety room seems to be a good group. Budda Baker made his eighth Pro Bowl this past season. Jalen Thompson had a Pro Football Focus grade this past season of 68.7, but with zero interceptions and a hefty 95 total tackles. Seventh-round draft pick Kitan Crawford ended his rookie season on IR, and the jury is still out on Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Joey Blount.

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One prize defender came out of the Senior Bowl this week, with safety Bud Clark out of TCU. He was everywhere. During the practice week, this game only allowed some medium hitting in two practice sessions, and they had to tell Clark to tone it down. Several times.

Clark is known for going up against elite receivers during his college career. It was no different at the Senior Bowl as he harassed receivers going deep every practice session. His ball production jumps off the tape. He is a confident run defender and has no issue coming down to support, stopping the run game. Natural leader and has controlled aggression.

He had a very good week in Mobile, which will elevate his stock. Clark came into this game as a high fourth-round selection, and now has jumped at least one round and would not surprise anyone if he heard his name called at the bottom of Round 2.

Clark got a new nickname during practice week at the Senior Bowl: Stingy. This is a guy who is always a fan favorite and is very approachable.

Revenge of the Birds staff writer Barry Shuck was at the Senior Bowl this week. He interviewed Clark during the practice week. Clark is a two-time Second Team All-Big 12 member.

S Bud Clark (6’-1”, 185 pounds)

TCU

Projection: Round 3

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Shuck: You have consistently shown in the 1-on-1 drills some smooth shadowing with receivers and tight ends. What is your technique?

Clark: I use my quickness to stay with the faster receivers. Tight ends are tricky because they are always taller and weigh more than any safety. They will slam you right away and stick out their shoulder or hip to push you aside. I have to get up under them, or they will use their girth on passing downs. I have to be just as physical, or else they will do this all game on you. You have to be just as physical. I can jump routes with my anticipation and use my size to press receivers off their routes.

Shuck: People who know defense in college football were already aware of you before you got here at the Senior Bowl. This week, you balled out. How do you describe your game?

Clark: I have plenty of experience and have played 61 games at TCU. I am durable and seem to be in the right places in order to make a play. For the past three years, I played every game. I love to hit, and I am good at it. My coverage skills are really good, too. I love receivers who think they are going to end up being open deep. I can rule being a zone defender. I bat down a lot of balls and have had 15 interceptions in the last four years, so I pride myself on being around the ball. In my first two practices here, I got two interceptions in two days.

Shuck: You are manned up with a receiver. How does that work for a safety?

Clark: I can walk down, I can press. I can play off and do whatever is needed of me. I am step-by-step with these receivers. I’m very versatile. And I learn fast and like to get advice from coaches and veteran players. They know. I just love to compete.

Shuck: This past year, you were ranked in the Top-5 safety group. What brought out the best in you this past season?

Clark: Just being able to see different things, like just small details, like back away or if I shuffle it back to me. Like being able to know the game of football. I have always been athletic, but I put that knowledge hand-in-hand, and it helped me. I think my anticipation is good.   

Shuck: This past year, you were the highest-rated TCU player in the video game “College Football 25.” Did you brag about that to your teammates?

Clark: Nah, I didn’t tell them. They told me. I try not to throw it in their faces. That 92 rating was amazing. I’m not going to fanboy right now, but I felt like it was pretty great. I go home, and my two-year old son looks at me like dad he knows who it is. I’m going to tell my son all his life. It’s pretty cool. The game is realistic, and there are different details from last year’s.  

Shuck: How do you handle the adversity of losing a few games in a row?

Clark: We just go back to work. Start with team meetings and make sure everybody talks about it and hits straight. Make sure nobody don’t point any fingers, and everybody stays together. I am one of the team leaders. If I see negativity, if I hear anything wrong, if it’s not great positivity, don’t say it. Keep it to yourself. Go tell your family members about it because we will fix this on our own.  

Shuck: What will NFL coaches and scouts be saying about you when they leave the Senior Bowl?

Clark: That I am a hustler and will do my job. I can play box, free, strong, or come down and play linebacker or blitz. I am a hitter and known as a ball hawk. I love coming down and taking down a running back. That is why I am here.