Former Michigan defender nabs INT in XFL Week 2

The former Wolverines cornerback made a big play to help lead the Seattle Dragons to a win over the Tampa Bay Vipers.

[jwplayer sIc1iJKg-XNcErKyb]

The new XFL franchise in Seattle has a certain Michigan flair when it comes to its defensive backfield. That said, perhaps it’s the new ‘legion of boom?’

Once part of the nation’s best pass defense in Ann Arbor, both Jeremy Clark and Channing Stribling flanked the edges, particularly early in 2016, when fellow cornerback Jourdan Lewis was out with injury. Clark’s career didn’t quite get the chance to flourish, not even at Michigan. Though he was in his senior year, he was just starting to showcase his abilities when he was crucially injured in Week Four against Penn State, tearing his ACL.

He was denied an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA, and thus submitted himself to the NFL Draft, despite not being healed enough to participate fully in the NFL Scouting Combine or his pro day.

His potential was great enough, as he was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, with the 197th overall pick. However, his pro career was a constant barrage of being put on injured reserve and being recalled, and he was eventually waived by the franchise after two years.

But, he’s getting redemption in the XFL.

On Saturday, as the Seattle Dragons hosted the Tampa Bay Vipers, an errant throw found its way right to Clark, where he was in perfect position to reel it in for his first career professional-level INT.

Clark — and Stribling, for that matter — both finished the game with 3 tackles and a tackle for loss. Clark also added a team-leading 2 passes defended in the Dragons game hosting the Tampa Bay Vipers.