Alijah Clark S Syracuse | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Alijah Clark S Syracuse
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/16/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (86%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.7 DOB: 07/11/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Man-Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 02/16/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (86%*) | |
| Age: 21.7 DOB: 07/11/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 81.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 107.0 | |
| Tackling: |
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66% |
| Run Defense: |
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66% |
| Coverage: |
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78% |
| Zone: |
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74% |
| Man/Press: |
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76% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#258
Position rank:
#47
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1840 | ||
ESPN RATING: 76/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dane Belton - Iowa |
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85% |
| Beau Brade - Maryland |
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83% |
| Cam Taylor-Britt - Nebraska |
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83% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The path to the NFL has been a winding one for Camden, New Jersey's Alijah Clark. After making his initial collegiate stop at Rutgers, Clark found his true home with the Syracuse Orange, where he developed into a steady presence in their secondary. At 6'1" and 187 pounds, his frame carries intriguing length but concerning play strength for the next level.Clark's journey at Syracuse reveals a player who can contribute in specific roles while showing limitations in others. After transferring in 2022, he earned a starting role and showed promise in coverage, particularly in zone schemes. His junior year demonstrated his ceiling, recording 65 tackles and creating multiple turnovers, though consistency remained elusive. His senior campaign followed a similar pattern - flashing potential in coverage while struggling to make impact plays and showing vulnerability against the run.
Through 44 collegiate games, Clark compiled 187 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss, but managed only two interceptions despite extensive playing time. His Holiday Bowl defensive MVP performance against Washington State offered a glimpse of his upside, though his overall body of work suggests a player who will need to find the right scheme fit to maximize his specific skill set.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Above-average straight-line speed for the position, verified by his 4.45 forty time, shows up when ranging to the sideline in coverage
- Natural feel for zone spacing and deep coverage assignments, particularly effective when keeping plays in front of him
- Shows good plant-and-drive ability when breaking on underneath routes, especially in quarters coverage
- Length creates disruption at the catch point when he's in position, particularly effective against shorter receivers
- Disciplined eyes in zone coverage, rarely gets manipulated out of position by quarterback movement
- Brings four years of special teams experience and willingness to contribute in multiple phases
- Solid change of direction skills when transitioning from backpedal, maintains balance through breaks
- Communicates well in the secondary, shows awareness of coverage adjustments and route combinations
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Significantly undersized, routinely gets overwhelmed by blockers in the run game
- Subpar tackling technique leads to missed opportunities, particularly concerning given his role as last line of defense
- Limited ball production over extensive playing time raises questions about playmaking instincts
- Struggles mightily to disengage once blocked, often getting sealed off entirely from the play
- Man coverage limitations show up against shifty receivers, lacks ideal quick-twitch ability in short spaces
Scouting Report: Summary
Clark projects as a backup safety with core special teams value and potential to contribute in sub-packages. His combination of length and straight-line speed makes him an interesting developmental prospect, but his limitations against the run and inconsistent tackling likely restrict him to a specific role.Teams running predominantly zone coverage schemes might find value in Clark as a developmental depth piece. His ability to operate in deep zones and special teams experience could earn him a roster spot, though his frame and physical limitations cap his ceiling. Any team drafting Clark will need a clear plan for protecting him from unfavorable matchups in the run game.
His best path to NFL success likely starts on special teams while developing as a backup safety in a zone-heavy scheme. While there's upside in his coverage ability, his overall profile suggests a career backup with special teams value rather than a future starter.
Alijah Clark percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Alijah Clark (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
311.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
73.0
*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.