From now until the 2025 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Notre Dame defensive back Jordan Clark.
No. 1, JORDAN CLARK, DB, NOTRE DAME — 5092, 184 POUNDS
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Jordan Clark | 5092/184 | 8 6/8″ | 29 3/8″ | 71 3/8″ |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.64 | N/A | 4.34 | 7.33 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 10’4″ | 36.5″ | 18 |
THE GOOD
-Really good ball skills and instincts for the position
-Good footwork to mirror and stick with receivers off the line; changes directions with ease and his transitions are very smooth
-Packs a good punch when pressed up on smaller receivers; utilizes two hands to jam
-Smart player who understands formations and route concepts, giving him advantage of understanding what offense is trying to do
-High compete level; motor runs hot and plays with a chip
-Shows comfort in man and zone coverage
-Has good physicality; willingness to mix it up, making contact with receivers every chance possible
THE BAD
-Smaller frame from size and length perspective for a true boundary corner; profiles as slot-only
-Struggles against more physical receivers
-Lack of length can hinder him as a tackler, leading to some misses as he fails to wrap up
-Willing run defender working downhill, but size and strength lead to questions about transition to NFL
-Slow to get off blocks; hasn’t developed hand usage to consistently win
-Needs to add some play strength to hold up in the NFL; has room on his frame to add some bulk
-Long speed a concern downfield in coverage; doesn’t seem to have that next gear to stick with receivers
BIO
-Played in 16 games at Notre Dame in 2024, starting eight after transferring from Arizona State
-Recorded 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, and 11 passes defensed in lone season with Fighting Irish
-Spent previous five seasons at Arizona State, playing in 40 career games with 23 career starts
-Finished collegiate career in total with 176 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, one touchdown and 48 passes defensed
-Former four-star recruit who played in Under Armor All-American game
-Son of former Steelers safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark
-Soccer was Clark’s first love; played for Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ youth academy while Ryan was a member of the Steelers
-Accepted invite to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl, but didn’t participate after long Notre Dame season
TAPE BREAKDOWN
In the 2025 NFL Draft class, there are a few players hoping to make the jump to the next level who have NFL bloodlines as the son of former NFL players.
Notre Dame’s Jordan Clark is one of them.
The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl-winning safety Ryan Clark was a key piece on the Notre Dame defense in 2024, helping the Fighting Irish reach the College Football Playoffs Championship game.
After six years in college — he played his first five at Arizona State before transferring — Clark is ready to make the leap to the NFL. He put together a strong 2024 season under the bright lights of Notre Dame, putting himself on the NFL radar.
Clark’s a bit undersized for an outside corner or even a safety, but in today’s NFL with an emphasis on playing nickel and dime and having a physical slot corner who can cover as well as play the run, an opportunity is there for him.
As a slot corner during the 2024 season, Clark made some big plays in the playoffs and showed the ability to handle a significant role within the slot.
Here’s a big pass breakup on third down against Georgia in the College Football Playoff.
Clark does a nice job of using his feet to mirror the receiver. He doesn’t contact him initially, but he’s able to stay in his hip pocket and drive on the throw, creating the pass breakup to force a change in possession.
Clark is at his best when things are in front of him. He has some long-speed questions when he has to turn and run, but when he’s able to read things in front of him, he’s quite a productive player.
Here’s his lone interception in 2024 at Notre Dame, coming against Florida State.
Handling a tight end from the wing position while in the box, Clark does a good job of getting hands on the tight end and getting into his hip pocket at the top of his stem. From there, he’s able to keep eyes on the quarterback and drive on a throw that the quarterback had no business making.
Good ball skills to finish the play for the INT.
Clark has a good punch when in press coverage, but he doesn’t use it often. Instead, he trusts his footwork to keep him in phase with receivers. More often than not, it works very well.
On a big third down here against Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinal, Clark mirrors with his feet, slips underneath the pick play and stays right in the hip pocket of the Penn State receiver. Getting a hand on the slant route, he breaks up the third-down throw, forcing a punt.
Though I have some concerns with his frame, he’s a sound tackler who will strike opponents.
I love this rep against Louisville last season. Clark had to cover a lot of ground just to get to the flat pre-snap. Watch his footwork to flip his hips and get square to the line of scrimmage. Then, once he sees the throw to the flat, watch what little movement he wastes to plant and drive downhill.
Once he’s there, that’s a sound, fundamental tackle to drive through the strike zone for the big stick. Well done.
Similar rep here against Louisville again, this time working from the safety position.
Clark does a really good job of navigating some traffic in front of him and still remains on track to the receiver. Once the throw is coming that way, Clark finds another gear to close and makes a strong tackle on the boundary, making a play in space.
Despite some good reps on tape as a tackler, there are some concerns with Clark due to his frame and inability to get off blocks quickly on the perimeter.
This rep on a read option by Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough is a good example.
Clark is in the slot and is a tick slow to get off the block. Once he’s free, he drives downhill to get to Shough, but once he’s there he dives at the quarterback’s legs and misses badly. That gives Shough a clear lane to the next level, and he rips off an explosive run.
Though Shough fumbles the ball at the end and Notre Dame recovers, it was a messy rep from Clark, and a clear example of some of the concerns with him as a slot corner against the run at the next level.
CONCLUSION
Overall, there are things to like about Jordan Clark as a slot cornerback at the next level. He’s sound in coverage, mirrors well and has good footwork. He’s a good communicator as well and has a high football IQ. He plays with physicality as well and is going to compete his tail off.
The concern is that he has a small frame for the position and needs to add some play strength. He has the willingness to come downhill against the run and play in the box, throwing his body around, but he needs to add some bulk to better withstand the rigors of the NFL.
Being the son of a Super Bowl-winning safety certainly helps as he knows the game inside and out and saw up close and in person what it takes to be a pro. He’s worth taking a shot on late in the draft, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go the UDFA route. He reminds me of former Steelers cornerback Josiah Scott as a guy who can handle slot reps and rotate in at safety in certain packages.
Projection: Late Day 3
Depot Draft Grade: 6.3 — End of Roster/ Practice Squad
Games Watched: Louisville (2024), Florida State (2024), Indiana (2024), Penn State (2024), Ohio State (2024)
