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Clark Phillips III

Clark Phillips III (CB) – Utah / Sophomore

5’9” / 184.0 (Official)

2022 Stats: 12 Games, 16 Solo Tackles, 8 Assists, 24 Total Tackles, 2 Tackles For Loss, 1 Sack, 6 Interceptions, 142 Return Yards, 23.7 Yards Per Interception, 2 Touchdowns, 6 Passes Defended

{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/clark-phillips-iii-1.html}

Awards: 2022 Consensus All American, 2022 #3 NCAA Interceptions (6), 2021 #1 Pac-12 Passes Defended (13)

Measurables: (AVAILABLE POST COMBINE/PRO DAY)

Games Watched: [Coach] 2022 Vs. Florida, 2022 Vs. USC. [Nino] 2022 vs Florida, 2022 vs USC, 2021 vs BYU.

PRO’S 

[Coach] Mirror corner, great instincts. Though he’s a strong man coverage corner he is still locked into the game around him. When in zone coverage, rarely see him flat footed, moving with the game and adjusting to his responsibilities. Smooth hips, quickly transitions from his back pedal to an open hipped position to carry receivers throughout their routes. Never looks stuck or slow when reacting to the receiver in close coverage situations where he’s squared up at the LOS. Phillips has a quick trigger when breaking on a route, reacting to screens or outside carries. Closes the passing window quickly.

[Nino] CP3 mirrors WRs extremely well and is silky smooth in transitions / change of direction. He has quick feet like MJ moonwalking through the secondary and shows good length and speed vs any WR. CP3 continued to improve on his production in each of his 3 seasons at Utah tallying 21 PDs and 11 INTs with those numbers it’s safe to say he has ball hawking skills! CP3 is a legitimate impact player with explosives and twitch. Super fluid and has great recovery speed (6:40 left in 1st qtr vs USC, Caleb Williams throws a quick 6 yd out route to WR Jordan Addison to the right side of the field CP3 is able to close quickly and break up the pass).

CON’S

[Coach] Phillips does not have ideal size for an outside corner, coming in at 5’9” he’ll be at a disadvantage vertically compared to most receivers he will be lined up against. Aggressive, needs to work on coming to balance when committing to the open field tackle. A little too aggressive at times at the top of routes when trailing the receiver, trying to lean and throw the receiver off his path rather than locating the receivers hands and trying to beat the football there.

[Nino] Although it may not be considered a negative in this day in age of the NFL but due to his size he will probably be a Nickel corner. CP3 tends to give up early separation on inside moves and crossing routes (7:24 left in 2nd qtr vs BYU, CP3 is covering Puca Nucau on the bottom of screen was giving 5 yards of separation at LOS as soon as Puca makes inside move separation grew, ball was overthrown for incompletion or would of been a TD.) . He will also need to work on his tackling consistency, more wrapping and less arm tackles (1:53 left in the 1st qtr vs Florida, Richardson throws a pass the WR in the backfield and CP3 has chance to make tackle but throws himself at receiver and ends up with a missed arm tackle).

OVERALL 

[Coach] Phillips tallied 8 interceptions and 19 passes defended over his last 2 seasons at Utah. Phillips is an aggressive corner who showcases sticky man to man coverage with the tenacity to fight through blocks when attacking the ball carrier and a willingness to stick his nose in there regardless of any size disadvantage he may be at. Some of the best film I’ve watched this draft Season was Phillips Vs. Addison, Phillips was a mosquito constantly in Addison’s hip pocket allowing small passing windows for the quarterback to try and attack. Like I said on my Tyjae Spears breakdown, you can measure size but you can’t measure heart. Phillips’ talent and heart should ultimately win out for him at the next level.

[Nino] There is a very good chance that CP3 could break the 50+ year drought of a Utah Utes DB going in the 1st round. Although his size may be a concern, film shows you he can play bigger than 5’9 and he is a sticky DB with field awareness and sticky coverage skills. If CP3 is featured as a strictly slot / nickel DB he will be one of the top in the class and for years to come in the NFL. Player Comp: Chris Harris Jr

Completed by: @coachschepps, 03/04/23

Added to: @NinoBrown_T2T, 03/24/23

Reviewed & edited: J. Clark, 03/24/23

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