Former UCLA nose tackle Kenny Clark has fought a hard fight to get to the NFL. When Clark was just nine, Kenny Clark Sr. was sent to prison, leaving Kenny with a heavy load of responsibility looking after the family. "My mom worked hard and stayed mentally strong and raised us to be good kids, taking after her," Clark said. However, the unfortunate hand he was dealt helped mold Kenny into a mentally-strong prospect with tons of diligence.
Career Stats While At UCLA
2013: 31 tackles, four for loss, one sack
2014: 58 tackles, 5.5 for loss
2015: 75 tackles, 11 for loss, six sacks
The Basics
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 214 lbs
Broad Jump: 102"
40 Yard Dash: 5.06
Arm Length: 32 1/8"
Bench Press Reps (BPR): 29
How He Compares To Other Defensive Lineman
Andrew Billings, NT, Baylor (6'1", 311 lbs): 5.05 40 yard dash, 31 BPR
A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (6'4", 307 lbs): 5.20 40 yard dash, 22 BPR
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (6'1", 299 lbs): 5.03 40 yard dash, 28 BPR
The Rundown
Positives:
- Packs a powerful initial punch to displace a defender
- An extremely instinctive football player - quick to diagnose a run or screen
- Winds up a bull rush that seems nearly impossible to stop when single blocked
- Strong upper-body (29 bench press reps) to go along with amazing leverage through his hips
- Keeps legs churning to collapse pocket
- Somewhat versatile on the defensive line; played 0, 1 and 2 technique - splits gaps well
Negatives:
- A straight-line bull rusher with sub-par lateral quickness
- Clark's biggest downside by far would be his short arms - missed way too many tackles for an interior defensive lineman
- Change-of-direction skills are below-average
- Film often shows Clark not staying home, hence the loss of backside contain
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Clark still needs a lot of polishing, but could evolve into something special at the next level. He is an anchor at the point of attack, but his lack of pass rush is a concern. In the NFL, Clark's inability to be present on third downs and his lack of production against superior competition worries teams. One scout stated, "What bothers me about Clark is that he was so much better against weaker competition than he was against better talent. I like him, but not like everyone is hyping him up." Bottom line is that Clark may not be able to come in and start immediately, although he will hands down make his presence be felt in rotational work.