Florida defensive back Kanye Clark spoke to the media Tuesday during the Gators' first full week of fall camp.
The UCLA transfer discussed his path from turning down scholarship offers to walking on with the Bruins, eventually earning a scholarship and deciding to bet on himself again by transferring to Florida. Clark also detailed his adjustment to the SEC, his role at STAR in defensive coordinator Brad White’s scheme and the competition within Florida’s secondary.
Clark also touched on his gains in the weight room, competing against Florida’s receivers, his impressions of Jayden Woods and LJ McCray and taking freshman Dylan Purter under his wing.
Here’s everything Clark had to say.
What was your transfer process like, and how did the Florida staff reach out to you?
All right, well, first of all, thank you for bringing me up here.
I hope you guys are all doing well. My transfer process, it was pretty smooth. This was my first visit and only visit. I came to Florida, so once I came up here, as soon as I got here, I knew I wanted to come here.
What were some of the most appealing factors about coming to Florida?
Yeah, definitely coming to the SEC. That’s everybody’s dream as a child. So that’s what I wanted to do. And it was a new opportunity for me to show my ability at the highest level.
How did you go from Sacramento to walking on at UCLA despite having scholarship offers?
I’m from a smaller city in Sacramento. Not a lot of looks out there. I had around 15 offers coming out of high school, but I passed up all of those to walk on at UCLA. So I just wanted to bet on myself and prove what I could do on the field.
What was the biggest scholarship offer you turned down to walk on at UCLA?
Some other Pac-12 schools. Washington State, probably.
What did you do to prove to UCLA’s coaches that you belonged at that level?
I think I just showed my work ethic every day, being a leader on and off the field, showing them my abilities on the field, and just put my head down and continued to work.
Does it feel like you have to prove yourself again at Florida?
In a sense, yeah. I feel like I always have to prove myself. Being a walk-on, I always remember that. And coming from the West Coast to the SEC, I always feel like I have to prove myself.
What has the adjustment to Florida’s climate been like?
Not that bad of an adjustment. I’m from Arizona, so I’ve been in a lot of heat before.
Where does your mentality as a big hitter come from despite your size?
Just always being seen as a smaller guy kind of fuels me on the field. So I like to go hit people and show them that the size doesn’t matter.
What do you think your role can be in this defense?
I have a really big role in this defense. Coach is putting me in the correct positions to make plays and do the best I can do for this team.
Is STAR where you have been working?
Yes, that’s where I’ve been working, at STAR.
What do you like about playing STAR?
I like that it shows my versatility as a player, being able to guard people one-on-one in the slot and also being able to show up in the box and blitz off the edge and whatnot.
What were offseason workouts like for you?
It was just another opportunity for me to show my work ethic and show what I could do in the weight room, to transfer that onto the field. It was challenging at first, but once we all came together and worked together as a unit, we got through it pretty easily.
What has Florida’s strength and conditioning program done for you?
The strength program was great here. I’ve made a lot of improvements with my weights and whatnot and got a lot stronger. I was able to power clean 315. I was able to deadlift 525. I was able to single-leg squat 405. Bench press 315. So a lot of improvement.
Were some of those numbers big jumps for you?
Real big jumps.
How much do you weigh right now?
I’m weighing at 186.
What has been your most meaningful moment in college football?
In college football, obviously getting a scholarship back at UCLA. That was my most meaningful moment in college. After my first year, I was able to get put on scholarship.
Do you still feel like you have a lot to prove on the field?
I still have a lot to prove for myself.
How did UCLA tell you that you had earned a scholarship?
We were in the team meeting room, and he had shown all my clips from practice from that previous day. And he said, "Come down here," and, "I’d like to offer you a scholarship."
Were you emotional when you learned you had earned a scholarship?
Not really emotional. I don’t really show a lot of emotion like that in front of people. But it was good. It was good seeing all the hard work paid off for that to happen.
When did you earn your scholarship?
That happened in 2024, going into my second year of college.
How did your family react when you earned the scholarship?
They were all proud of me. I mean, they know that I went to UCLA to prove myself and show what I could do. So it all paid off.
What positions did you play at UCLA?
At UCLA, I played safety, corner and nickel. I played all three and rotated between all three.
How have those coverage skills carried over to playing STAR at Florida?
Yeah, it’s been carrying over great. I mean, it’s a way for me to show my versatility, like I said, so that I could guard slots, tight ends and be in the box as well.
What was it like going from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten and dealing with all the travel?
Travel wasn’t bad. I mean, the flights were long, but just sleep on the plane and get up ready to go.
How unique was traveling so much in the Big Ten, and are you looking forward to playing more games in closer proximity?
Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t that bad of an experience. Obviously, the flights are all over five hours, four or five hours. So it was a lot of traveling, but sleep on the plane and I felt good afterwards.
What are some of the biggest differences between the UCLA and Florida locker rooms?
I’d say the biggest difference is probably the personalities, for sure. To me, a lot of these people got accents. I can’t really understand what they’re saying. So it kind of took me some time to lock in and understand what they’re saying when they speak to me. Got to figure out their accent.
I would say my teammates Cam Dooley and Jordan Lowery were probably the main guys I had to really understand what they were saying.
What was the conversation like with your family when you decided to turn down scholarships and pay to attend UCLA as a walk-on?
Yeah, I mean, I talked to my family about it. We prayed about it overnight, and they told me, "Whatever you want to do, we’ll be there supporting you and be right there behind you."
So I woke up the next morning and decided I just wanted to walk on and show that I could play at a high level.
What do you credit for coming on statistically toward the end of last season?
It was definitely like a little flash for me. With what we went through at UCLA last year and still being able to show my ability and show that I could play on the highest level.
What do you like about Brad White’s scheme and how he wants to use you?
Like I said, I’m able to show a lot of versatility playing in the STAR position and being in the box and go out and guard somebody. So I like that I’m able to do that and have a lot of vision on the quarterback to make plays and really show my versatility.
How would you describe the competition in the defensive back room and the potential of the secondary?
We have a lot of competition in the DB room. A lot of older guys and guys that are all pushing each other. And even the younger guys are pushing us, too, to stay on top of all of our things.
So competition has been going good, and it’s good to learn off of each other.
How difficult was the decision to leave UCLA after the program hired a new coach?
Yeah, I mean, it was a tough decision for me, for sure. I would think both schools would be a new opportunity for me with new coaching staffs. So I decided what I thought would be best for me and being able to make the most plays on the field.
What has the adjustment from Los Angeles to Gainesville been like?
It’s been a change, for sure, but it’s allowed me to really lock in and just be where my feet are instead of worrying about everything L.A. has to offer.
Is the traffic better in Gainesville?
Yeah, a lot better traffic.
What was it like playing for a former Florida coach at UCLA?
He was a great guy. He was real positive, just always keeping good energy. And he was a good coach to be around.
Did you talk to him about your decision to transfer to Florida?
He did coach me, but I didn’t talk to him about my decision, though.
Do you expect the SEC to be a major jump in competition after playing in the Big Ten?
I would say more consistent competition. But there was also some good competition in the Big Ten as well.
Which Florida receivers have been the toughest to guard?
I would say probably a mix between Eric Singleton and Vernell Brown. They’re just quick and explosive off the line and really fast guys. They’re real competitive, too. So I like guarding them and being able to compete against them every day.
What would a successful season look like for you?
Successful to me would be team success. So obviously, we want to win the SEC and go on to do bigger things. And as long as I’m able to help the team do that, then I would see that as successful.
How did you fare against Vernell Brown III in offseason competition?
We were on the same team. But I think we probably went against each other once or twice, I think. And I think he might have got me by one.
Were you one of only two players to beat Jayden Woods in the gauntlet?
True. I think it was. I think Vernell Brown was the other one.
What was it like competing against Jayden Woods in the gauntlet?
I mean, Jayden Woods, he’s a freak as well. So, I mean, it was great being able to compete against him, and he really was pushing me a lot.
And that’s another younger guy, so I just wanted to show myself I don’t want to lose to a younger guy, especially him being a freshman. I mean, he’s great, but I just don’t want to lose to a younger guy.
Jon Sumrall compared you to a Chihuahua and said you bark a lot on the field. What is your mentality when you’re playing?
My mentality, I just like to show it on the field. I don’t really talk a lot off the field, but when I get on the field, I like to bring out that energy and show that I’m here.
Did you have any previous relationships with people at Florida before transferring?
No, I didn’t.
Who sold you on Florida when you were in the transfer portal?
When I was in the portal, Coach (Chris) Collins, Coach (Dae'one) Wilkins, Coach (Brad) White and Coach (Jon) Sumrall had all reached out to me and spoke to me about making the transition here.
I did talk to J. Michael Sturdivant a little bit and ask him how he liked it here and the biggest differences. He came from UCLA as well, and he sold me as well.
What advice did Sturdivant give you about Florida?
I mean, he told me playing in the Swamp was one of the best things he’s ever done, and playing in front of all those people in a good crowd environment, because obviously it’s a lot better in the SEC.
So that’s one of the things that sold me. And he also said about being where your feet are and being able to focus and lock in on football.
What have you seen from Jayden Woods when he drops into coverage?
Yeah, he’s a great player with a lot of potential. He’s already been doing great things, and he’ll continue to do great things.
He’s, like I said, a freak. He’s able to guard people and go down and play on the line and do a lot of things for us. So he’ll be great.
Who is one of the guys you always hear on defense?
I would probably say Aaron Chiles.
How are Florida’s receivers preparing the secondary for the season?
They’re getting us ready a lot. Like I said, they’re real explosive, fast, quick guys. (Vernell) Brown, (Eric) Singleton, (Bailey) Stockton, (TJ) Abrams, everybody. They’re good. They got a lot of hands.
(Dallas) Wilson, he’s a big receiver. So they’re preparing us for this league and getting ready to play against some other big names.
How is Dylan Purter doing as a freshman?
Dylan Purter, that’s another freshman. He’s playing behind me, and he’s been doing great. I’ve been able to watch his growth, and he’s been helping me stay on top of all my work and whatnot.
And I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to act as a leader toward him.
Have you taken Dylan Purter under your wing?
A little bit. Trying to show him the ropes of college football and work with him through the playbook and how to play faster on the field.
What stands out to you about LJ McCray?
(LJ) McCray, I mean, he’s also about 6-7, probably, and he’s power cleaning over 365. So he’s real explosive. He’s tall, he’s lengthy. He’s able to do a lot for us as well and really close gaps for us on the defensive line.
How much progress have you seen from LJ McCray since the spring?
Yeah, he’s gained a lot of progression over the course of seven months and a lot of body change and whatnot. So he’s been doing great, and he’ll be a big piece on this defense for us.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: STAR Kanye Clark excited to play versatile role in Florida offense
