The New York Jets recently signed former Fresno State safety Dean Clark as an undrafted free agent. Today we break Clark down in detail.
The 24-year old Clark is listed at 6’1” and 206 pounds and was an all-MWC honorable mention last season. He spent four years at Kent State and two at Fresno State.
Background
Clark was a three-star high school recruit who headed to Kent State in 2019 and recorded six tackles in 13 games as a true freshman reserve.
He became a starter in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, leading the team with 28 tackles in their four games. He also added the first interception and forced fumble of his career, and two pass breakups.
In 2021, he broke out with a 117 tackle campaign, but he then missed most of the 2022 season having had offseason surgery. After recording just seven tackles in four games, he opted to transfer to Fresno State.
In his first season with the Bulldogs, Clark started all 12 games and racked up 83 tackles and a career-high three interceptions. He then had another productive season in 2024 as he had 63 tackles, the first two sacks of his career and career-best numbers for tackles for loss (four) and passes defensed (five). At the end of the season, he was named as an all-MWC honorable mention.
He didn’t attend the NFL scouting combine or any of the main all-star games during the pre-draft process and ultimately wasn’t selected in the 2025 NFL draft, although many sources had him ranked as a late-round pick.
After Clark went undrafted, the Jets signed him to an undrafted free agent deal with $160K guaranteed.
Let’s move on to some more in-depth analysis of what Clark brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Clark has average size and length but his pro day numbers were spectacular. He ran a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash, posted elite explosiveness numbers with a 41-inch vertical and 132-inch broad jump, and also posted good agility numbers and 19 bench press reps.
Despite these numbers, his athleticism doesn’t always show up on film. He can be slow to accelerate and does not display explosive in-game short area quickness as often as you’d like to see. Clark, who ran the 400m for his high school track team, does have good range though.
Usage
Clark is a versatile player who prides himself on knowing all the defensive positions. He plays plenty of single-high, ranging deep, but also comes up into the box to make plays closer to the line of scrimmage. His speed and size profile makes him an option to match up with slot receivers or tight ends.
Coverage skills
Clark’s coverage numbers were reasonably solid, with a 63.5 percent completion rate when he was targeted and only seven touchdowns given up in six years. He has been responsible for some big plays, though, with a 14 yards per catch average when targeted.
Encouragingly, his completion percentage allowed in 2024 was below 55 percent, which was the lowest number of his career.
Clark is at his most effective when ranging deep, effortlessly covering a lot of ground with good timing.
However, in downfield coverage, he can find himself out of position and unable to recover from time to time.
His awareness in zone coverage and a lack of hip flexibility when trying to recover are minor concerns closer to the line of scrimmage.
Ball skills
Clark came to Fresno State with the goal of making more plays on the ball and this was an area where he showed progress over these past two seasons. He had five pass breakups and one interception in four years at Kent State but nine pass breakups and four interceptions in his two seasons with Fresno State.
When he’s in position in coverage, he has good timing and the ability to disrupt, perhaps benefiting from the fact he was also a wide receiver in high school, so he has some experience of competing for catches.
He has made some spectacular interceptions during his career, not least of which was this acrobatic effort last season.
However, he doesn’t always get his head turned around on downfield and out-breaking routes when covering the slot.
Tackling
Tacking efficiency has to be a bit of a concern for Clark, who had 50 missed tackles in his career and twice had 17 in a season.
He’s been a productive tackler over the course of his career and shows an ability to close and stop a ball carrier in their tracks. However, his angles can be inconsistent and he has a tendency to over pursue at times.
Encouragingly, he almost halved his missed tackle count in 2024 as he only had nine missed tackles all year, ending up with the lowest missed tackle percentage of his four seasons as a full-time starter.
He only had one forced fumble in his collegiate career.
Run defense
Clark is a productive and willing run defender who posted the best run defense grade of his career in 2024 according to analysis site Pro Football Focus.
He’ll often line up as an extra linebacker and is adept at attacking the line of scrimmage without getting sealed off.
Clark is particularly good at making decisive reads so he can avoid blockers and maintain his gap discipline.
The main thing which has let him down against the run has once again been missed tackles, though.
Physicality
Clark brings toughness and aggression to the table when taking on blocks, attacking ball carriers and competing in coverage. He can get reckless at times though. This play saw him flagged for targeting and ejected.
Blitzing
Clark barely ever blitzed at Kent State, and he never generated any pressure. However, he did it a few times a game with the Bulldogs and recorded two sacks and a decent pressure rate, with his burst and timing making him a good option to send off the edge or up the middle.
Special teams
Clark has had good special teams production during his career, with 15 special teams tackles, 10 of which came in 2021.
He’s basically had a full-time role on every unit apart from the placekicking unit at some point in his career, covering kicks, rushing punts and field goals and blocking on kickoff returns and in punt protection.
Rushing punts is a particular area where he has had success. He blocked one in 2020 and blew up two punts last year - one on a deflection and the other as his rush led to the punter getting tackled in the backfield before he could get the punt off.
He has had three special teams penalties in his career.
Instincts/Intelligence
As noted, Clark prides himself on learning the system inside-out and he had the responsibility of wearing the helmet headset at Fresno State, so he was tasked with relaying calls.
He makes plenty of plays where he displays impressive examples of quick play recognition and reaction.
There are still some situations where Clark can be caught out of position or a step slow to react, though.
He was an all-MAC academic team selection in 2021.
Attitude
Clark is a hard worker with a positive mentality that prioritizes discipline over motivation and is consistent in his effort. He was a team captain both for Kent State and for Fresno State.
His on-field discipline has mostly been solid with just eight defensive penalties in his career. Other than the targeting call mentioned above, he was only flagged one other time in 2024.
Injuries
Clark’s most serious injury concern stems from a surgery he had on his Achilles tendon ahead of the 2022 season. He did return to action that year but was a non-factor.
Other than that, he missed just one game last year with an undisclosed injury.
Scheme Fit
Clark played a versatile role on two different teams and played in three different systems at Kent State alone, so he’s well-versed in picking up a new scheme.
His versatility could lend to him competing at a variety of positions, so it will be interesting to see whether the Jets get him to concentrate on one role or deploy him in different ways.
Conclusions
Clark was widely regarded as a possible late-round pick, but his stock seemed to slide heading into the draft - despite his outstanding pro day numbers.
College Football Network had him listed as one of their top-10 most overrated draft prospects this year, on the basis that his athleticism doesn’t always show up on film, so it’s possible other teams agree with that assessment and his numbers failed to move the needle.
He has a good combination of smarts and athletic ability, though, which give him every chance to thrive in the right environment. There are a lot of players with a realistic chance of earning reps at the safety position this year, so it will be hard for Clark not to get lost in the shuffle. He needs a big training camp and preseason, but a spot on the practice squad is within reach.