Bud Clark S TCU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #21 ROLE: Zone Free Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/11/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.41 seconds (93%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #21 | |
| ROLE: Zone Free Safety | |
| Last Updated: 03/11/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.41 seconds (93%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
| Overall Rating: | 84.6 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 68.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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81% |
| Run Defense: |
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87% |
| Coverage: |
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88% |
| Zone: |
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89% |
| Man/Press: |
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87% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#101
Position rank:
#24 (DB)
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 2646 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jevon Holland - Oregon |
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87% |
| Ronnie Hickman - Ohio State |
|
83% |
| Kerby Joseph - Illinois |
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83% |
Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 64 (SEA)
Draft Profile: Bio
Bud Clark came out of Alexandria, Louisiana as a four-star recruit, the 13th-ranked player in the state and 31st safety nationally, choosing TCU over LSU, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss. He redshirted in 2020 and injuries limited him to just four starts in 2021, costing him the final seven games.His career turned during TCU's 2022 College Football Playoff run. Clark earned the starting job midseason and finished with five interceptions, tied for 11th nationally. He saved his best for the Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Michigan, returning a J.J. McCarthy interception 41 yards for a touchdown and recovering a fumble in the end zone, earning Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 honors.
Named team captain in each of his final three seasons, Clark posted three interceptions in 2023 before grading as the third-best Power Four safety nationally in 2024 with a career-high 67 tackles and three picks. His 2025 senior year brought four more interceptions, a career-best seven pass breakups, and Second-Team All-Big 12 recognition, though he missed two late regular-season games due to injury. He finishes his TCU career with 15 interceptions, 21 pass deflections, and 214 tackles across 61 games. He reinforced his stock at the Senior Bowl, collecting multiple interceptions and breakups throughout the week in Mobile.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Fifteen career interceptions over four productive seasons with two pick-sixes.
- Elite straight-line speed allows him to recover and range over the top.
- Reads route combinations quickly and triggers downhill with conviction.
- Comfortable in man or zone, with extensive reps at safety and slot.
- Uses length well at the catch point to contest and high-point the ball.
- Willing run defender who navigates traffic and arrives with purpose.
- Three-year captain with 61 games of experience and Senior Bowl standout week.
- Strong closing burst to undercut routes and jump passing lanes.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Thin frame at just188 pounds leaves him vulnerable absorbing blocks.
- Over-aggressive reads on the quarterback's eyes can pull him out of position.
- Opens hips prematurely in man, giving receivers a window to separate.
- Missed tackle rate jumped in 2025 after a clean 2024 tackling season.
- Injury history is real: missed significant time in 2021, 2022, and 2025.
- Can lunge at legs rather than wrap up, especially against bigger ball carriers.
Scouting Report: Summary
Clark's value at the next level ties directly to his coverage versatility and ball production. Fifteen interceptions in four seasons is not a number you can coach into a player, and his ability to line up at deep safety, in the box, or as a slot defender gives coordinators options most Day 3 safeties cannot offer. His 2024 film, where he graded among the best Power Four safeties, showed a player who could handle a full workload and make plays in every phase. The 2025 tape was slightly less consistent but still produced strong run defense marks and four takeaways against a quality Big 12 schedule.Clark fits best in a defense that plays split-safety looks or Cover 2/Cover 4, where his range and instincts can work without asking him to be a true single-high centerfielder. He is a natural robber who reads the quarterback and drives on throws. His slot experience makes him a viable big nickel who can match up with tight ends, adding Day 1 value on passing downs before he earns a full-time starting role. The Senior Bowl confirmed what film already showed: Clark competes, finds the ball, and does not back down from physical matchups at his size.
The concerns are fair. His frame needs functional mass without losing the speed that sets him apart. The injury history across three seasons will require thorough medical evaluation. The gambling tendencies that produce turnovers can burn him against quarterbacks who manipulate eyes at the NFL level. But the ball production, speed, coverage grades, and experience package make Clark a safety who can contribute immediately on sub-packages with a likely path to starting if his body holds up.
Bud Clark percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Bud Clark (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
86.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
26.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.