Bud Clark, S
School: TCU | Conference: Big 12
College Experience: Senior | Age: ?
Height / Weight: 6’1” / 188 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 4th Round
Player Comparison: Calen Bullock
College Statistics
| Tackles | Def Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Comb | TFL | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | IntTD | PD | FR | Yds | FRTD | FF | Awards |
| 2020 | Texas Christian | Big 12 | FR | S | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | Texas Christian | Big 12 | SO | S | 4 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022* | Texas Christian | Big 12 | SO | S | 12 | 35 | 10 | 45 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 83 | 16.6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Texas Christian | Big 12 | SO | S | 12 | 21 | 12 | 33 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024* | Texas Christian | Big 12 | JR | S | 12 | 43 | 24 | 67 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2025* | Texas Christian | Big 12 | SR | S | 11 | 31 | 25 | 56 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 4 | 25 | 6.3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | 61 | 138 | 76 | 214 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 15 | 112 | 7.5 | 2 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Player Overview
The pride of Alexandria, Louisiana, Bud Clark was a two-sport standout in high school. On top of being a letterman in baseball, he was the 13th best high school football player in Louisiana and ranked the 31st best safety in the country. This earned him a four-star prospect ranking and offers from schools like Virginia,
TCU, LSU, Arizona State, and Tulane. After originally committing to Virginia, Clark flipped his commitment to TCU.
Clark played more than 60 games for the Horned Frogs because he arrived on campus in 2020. As a true freshman, he played in each game but saw most of his action on special teams. He would redshirt in 2021 due to injury after playing in just four games. Fully healthy as a redshirt freshman in 2022, Clark led the team with five interceptions and played a major role in propelling TCU to the National Championship Game. This resulted in him being named All-Big 12 honorable mention. For an encore in 2023, Clark, now a team captain, would tally another three interceptions, leading the Horned Frogs in that category again. He lead the team again in 2024 while being fourth on the team in tackles. Clark would be named All-Big 12 second team at the season’s end. For his final year at TCU, he matched his career high of five interceptions on the season and was again named All-Big 12 second team.
Strengths
- 4.41 shows up when coming downhill and closing on receivers
- In man coverage, footwork and agility are sufficient to stick with receiver throughout the route
- Best in zone where he can trust his eyes and instincts to get the ball
- Keen at having a feel for his receiver in zone without taking eyes off QB
- Disruptive at the catch point with hands to take the ball away
Weaknesses
- Willing tackler, but lighter weight for the position shows up in run game
- Motion and playaction can fool him into taking false steps away from the play
- Tackling form could be more consistent
- Older prospect with some injury concerns
Let’s See His Work
(via nfl.com/iq)
How He Fits on the Commanders
The Commanders wasted little time in free agency bolstering the safety position for 2026. They signed Amik Robertson, a cornerback that has the versatility to play some safety. Shortly after, they added Nick Cross, one of the better run stopping safeties in the league. These players, along with Quan Martin, Will Harris, Jeremy Reaves, and Tyler Owens, will be competing for time in the secondary. While that is a lot of names at the position, the Commanders could still use in this group is more a free safety to patrol the backend of the defense.
With his speed, awareness, and instincts, Bud Clark is a prospect who might be able to grow into a true free safety for the Commanders. He certainly has the speed to get sideline-to-sideline, but he’ll have to be a little more disciplined to make sure he isn’t fooled by savvy quarterbacks. He doesn’t have to play centerfield full-time as he has the ability to play other coverages successfully. Clark can also drop into the slot against receivers, but he’ll have to improve as a run stopper to play this role more often. With many other players at the position, there would not be a need to rush him onto the field. As an older prospect, there are questions about how much more growth Clark can experience at the next level. If the Commanders are confident that he can improve his weaknesses, Clark could become a key contributor for the team for years to come.
