Tag: Clark Phillips III

Seahawks take Jalen Carter, Utah CB in Round 1 of this 2023 NFL mock draft

In a new 2023 mock draft from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Seattle takes Carter first, then Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III at 18.

Seahawks fans who aren’t sold on Jalen Carter should probably get used to him getting mocked to their team in the top five. The Georgia defensive tackle is the consensus No. 1 prospect in this class and the one that fits Seattle’s personnel needs best. That means between now and draft day we’re going to be hearing his name a lot. For now, let’s focus on the Seahawks’ other first-round pick.

Right now it’s No. 18 overall thanks to the Dolphins’ punishment for their Tom Brady, Sean Payton tampering. In a new 2023 mock draft from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Seattle takes Carter first, then Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III at 18.

Just as Iowa produces the best offensive line prospects and Ohio State the top receivers, Utah is known for putting out excellent and pro ready defensive backs. Phillips is no exception. He may not have the size of a prototypical Pete Carroll cornerback (he’s listed as 5-foot-10, 191 pounds), but he comes loaded with a bonanza of ball skills. He’s posted nine interceptions and 21 passes defensed in 31 games for the Utes.

The scouting report on Phillips from The Draft Network says he’s quick and twitchy but a reactionary defender. Here’s the highlights.

As for where Phillips might fit in Seattle’s secondary, there’s only one spot that makes any sense.

Hopefully Tariq Woolen’s name will be written in permanent marker at right outside cornerback for the next 10 years and Coby Bryant is a strong candidate to start in the slot long-term. So, in order to start Phillips would have to replace Mike Jackson, who will become an unrestricted free agent in two months and has a chance to cash in on a quality season. If Jackson moves on, 2021 fourth-round pick Tre Brown would be Phillips’ only real competition for the left boundary spot.

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Latest TDN mock draft sends Vikings a cornerback

The cornerback position is going to be popular in mock drafts this year

I realize that the Minnesota Vikings are just a week away from being in the playoffs as either the NFC’s number two or three seed, but with the beginning of January comes mock draft season and this is no different. The latest mock draft from The Draft Network is from Kyle Crabbs and he has the Vikings taking Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III.

Here is what Crabbs had to say about the Utes standout.

“The Vikings have plenty of talent and have mastered the art of situational football this season. How do they encore? How about more talent in the secondary? I’d love to see Clark Phillips III as a new piece running around with a young player like Andrew Booth Jr. and a veteran like Patrick Peterson. Chandon Sullivan is a nice player too, but Minnesota needs more talent in general on the back end and more depth at corner.”

The Vikings’ secondary has been the weak link on the team and continuing to add talent is a net positive.

Mock Draft Roundup: Vikings go wide receiver & cornerback

The Vikings could use players at both spots

Draft season is never too early to be a focus. The future is always right in front of you and needs to be looked at as such.

For the Minnesota Vikings, they are currently in a situation where they have 10 wins in just 13 games utilizing what the organization is calling a competitive rebuild. They have taken mostly the same team from last season and made it one win away from a division champion.

As we continue to look forward, we at Vikings Wire will be keeping track of who the media mocks to the Vikings. That tally will start on January 1st, but there are some good mock drafts coming during the season.

We found three of them that we want to shine a light on and they all went to the boundary to give the Vikings an upgrade.

Seahawks go defense-first in this two-round 2023 NFL mock draft

Here’s how the mock played out for Seattle.

Once the Seahawks decided what to do with their 2023 free agent class, their focus will turn to the draft. This franchise hit a home run in 2022 for the first time in 10 years and another strong class could put them into championship contention.

In a new two-round mock from Luke Easterling at Draft Wire, the Seahawks address their defensive needs with their first three picks. Here’s how the mock played out for Seattle.

Utah CB Clark Phillips III grabs 3 picks, takes one to the house vs. Oregon State

Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III put on a show Saturday against Oregon State

If your favorite NFL team is looking for a big-play, shutdown corner in next year’s draft, Utah’s Clark Phillips III just stated his case.

In Saturday night’s win over Oregon State, Phillips picked off three passes, taking one of them back for a touchdown.

Phillips has the size, length and physicality NFL teams love at the position, and clearly has the instincts, ball skills, and splash-play ability to become a shutdown artist at the next level.

Don’t be surprised if Phillips ends up being a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and one of the first corners off the board.

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Utah defensive back had an amazing day with 3 picks vs. Oregon State

Defensive back Clark Phillips III had a heck of a day for Utah.

They don’t call him Clark Phillips III for nothing.

Utah football’s sophomore defensive back is on a takeaway hot streak. He hauled in his third interception of the day in the end zone against Oregon State on Saturday.

The play marks the first hat trick for a Utah secondary player since the program joined the Pac-12.

Phillips entered Saturday’s game with a lone pick in four games, opening up the stat book for his breakout game of 2022.

No. 12 Utah demolished a good Oregon State team, 41-16, adding to the team’s playoff resume. Perhaps it’ll wake up Sunday to being ranked in the top 10?

If it does, Phillips will be a big reason why.

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Giants select QB Anthony Richardson in latest 2023 Draft Wire mock

In the latest 2023 NFL mock draft from Draft Wire, the New York Giants land Florida QB Anthony Richardson, previously known as AR-15.

For reasons beyond our understanding, 2023 NFL mock drafts continue to be published with remarkable frequency. And for the New York Giants, we’ve seen the same names (Will Levis, Kelee Ringo) being projected to them over and over again.

But that changed a bit this week with the newest 2023 mock from our friends over at Draft Wire. In it, they have the Giants selecting ninth overall and landing Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who recently changed his “AR-15” nickname.

The Giants declined the fifth-year option on Daniel Jones’ contract, so barring massive improvement from the former top-10 pick this season, the Giants will be looking for his replacement here. Richardson flashed sky-high potential at times last season, and if he stays healthy, a breakout campaign this year could launch him into this range.

The selection of Richardson comes with C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Cam Ward off the board. Levis lasted until the Indianapolis Colts nabbed him with pick No. 21 overall.

In Round 2, selecting at No. 41 overall, the Giants address their second biggest concern by landing Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III.

How would you feel about this scenario come next April, Giants fans? Positive, negative or indifferent? Sound off in the comments and let us know.

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Taking an early look at the top 15 CB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class

After the Eagles passed on adding defensive backs to the roster last weekend, we’re taking an early look at the top 15 CB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class

The 2022 NFL draft came and went with the Eagles passing on a cornerback and safety in all seven rounds, choosing to address the position via undrafted free agency.

Cornerback was deemed an urgent position of need with no established starter at the position opposite Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay.

It’s the third time in four years that Philadelphia has bypassed selecting a cornerback in the draft. It’s the fifth time in six years they haven’t selected a safety.

The Eagles really like the young cornerback already on the roster and add former Clemson All American cornerback Mario Goodrich via undrafted free agency as well.

If 2022 doesn’t produce a starter opposite Slay, the 2023 NFL draft offers an opportunity to find a successor and starter at both spots.

Here are the top 15 cover guys to watch heading into the next college football season.

Clark Phillips III speaks out on why he flipped to Utah from Ohio State

Former Ohio State football commit Clark Phillips III flipped to Utah on signing day. Here him provide insight on why he made the choice.

It was one of the most surprising moments of the early signing period. Four-star defensive back Clark Phillips III had been committed to Ohio State and considered a lock to come play in Columbus. But then rumors started circulating, and Phillips took a visit to Utah.

Still, many considered the class’ No. 4 rated cornerback and 47th overall recruit according to 247Sports to still choose the Buckeyes when it was all said and done.

And then he didn’t — opting to make a flip at the last moment to Utah. It left the OSU coaches and fans with a missed opportunity to land one one of the commits they were looking forward to bringing in to round out the class. It could have been another big-time talent for a secondary losing experience and skill.

So what changed?

Phillips sat down with Jeremiah Jensen at NBC affiliate KSL TV in Salt Lake City to discuss the change of heart. When asked why he shifted gears, and why Utah was the place for him, Phillips shed a little light on the situation.

“Honestly, I can speak a long time about the things throughout the process that I was looking for the things that changed,” Phillips said. “But it was about a two-week span I had a change in heart, and the family with a lot of conversations and a lot of prayer definitely led me and allowed me to have the discernment to choose Utah over Ohio State.”

When asked if there was a moment when the decision became clear to him, Phillips said it happened just prior to signing day.

“About a couple of days before signing day I was talking to coach (Kyle) Whittingham,” said Phillips. “And a couple of things happened with the other university I was committed to (Ohio State) that allowed me to see that door open for Utah and really just made me feel really really comfortable with the staff and realize that the guys that are at Utah and the staff and everything that’s in place — I felt really really comfortable with the stability, the players, and then the opportunity that’s at hand.”

You can listen to the entire exchange thanks to the video of the sit-down shared to Jeremiah Jensen’s Twitter feed below.

Phillips seems like a very good kid that took a lot of time to make the decision that was right for him. Ohio State is not right for everyone and he and his family have decided to go another route, and that’s okay.

Good luck young man.

Ohio State is staring down a complete rebuild in the secondary for 2020

All four DBs for Ohio State could head to the NFL after this season, and the Buckeyes could be staring at a rebuild there in 2020.

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost Clarke Phillips III yesterday, and it may end up hitting them hard as the NFL Draft could take the bulk of their star defensive backs.

All three cornerbacks for Ohio State could head to the NFL after this season, and the Buckeyes could be in trouble if that happens. At the very least, Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette are expected to leave. The secondary will also lose All Big-Ten performers Jordan Fuller at safety to graduation.

Okudah is a projected top-five pick while Arnette may be able to sneak into the first round as well, and will certainly be selected before the draft’s final day.

The wild card for Ohio State is Shaun Wade.

Will the Buckeyes third-string corner leave as well?

Wade, a five-star recruit coming out of high school, is projected as top-50 pick according to USA Today’s Draft Wire. After missing the 2017 season, Wade’s tenure hasn’t been what many had hoped, but the skill is still there, and he’s been coming on. He would be the most talented and experienced pass-defender heading into next season.

The loss of the entire back end of the defense could be back-breaking for the team that’d have to figure out their defensive sets without the help of a superstar roaming the field.

With four-star cornerback Ryan Watts inbound and four-star safety Lathan Ransom also coming in, the Buckeyes should have a capable secondary taking the field next season, but it certainly won’t be the same strength we’re currently seeing. There will need to be some development, and likely a lot of growing pains with so much youth.

Guys like Cameron Brown, Amir Riep and Sevyn Banks return and will factor in, but they too will need an offseason of development and seasoning.

Clark Phillips would also be a young one, but it would be one more talented and athletic DB to drop into a competitive situation. That can never hurt. Now Ohio State will need to have a plan for all the losses in the secondary, and it’ll be doing it without Jeff Hafley.