Profiling Colts Tight End Dallas Clark

Dallas Clark

Born:  12th of June, 1979

Hometown: Livermore, IA

College:  University of Iowa

Draft:  1st round, 24th overall – 2003 (Indianapolis Colts)

Height:  6 feet 3 inches

Weight:  252 lbs

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College

Professional

Pre-Draft Measurables

40-Yard Dash:  4.65 seconds

3-Cone Drill:  -.– seconds

20-Yard Shuttle:  -.– seconds

Bench Press:  — reps

Vertical Jump:  37.5 inches

Broad Jump:  123.0 inches

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Breakdown

Dallas Clark joined the Colts after serving as a two-year starter at the University of Iowa — where he won the prestigious John Mackey Award — before leaving a year early for the NFL draft.

In terms of draft stock, Dallas Clark was one of the top rated tight ends, due in part to his John Mackey Award and a solid performance at the NFL Combine.  Part of Clark’s pre-draft analysis proved to be very prescient.  SI.com wrote prior to the 2003 draft that…

Shows a penchant for coming up with the big reception during the game’s important minutes…

Of all Clark’s great traits, it is his ability to be a big-time play maker in high stress situations.  His ability to make a catch under pressure, break tight coverage, work for extra yards to secure the first down, and stay consistently on his game has made him an invaluable asset to the Colts.  Manning has effectively set Clark up as his number-two receiver, aided by how often Clark works off the line of scrimmage.

Clark has a career catch rate of over 65 percent, and led the team in the number of receptions per first down last season.  He put up monster numbers in 2009, catching over 75 percent of the passes thrown his way during the regular season — that number sank slightly during the postseason.  Still, the 2009 postseason provided another big example of Clark’s ability to perform in big games.  In spite of a poor performance from the receivers during the Super Bowl, Clark led the team in yards.

Some trends have developed for Clark over the year that are worthy of concern.  Clark failed to play a full season of football before 2009, and has a history of concussions that could prematurely end Clark’s professional career.  Clark has also had seen a decline in his yards per reception each year of his career.  This is partially due to his role as a possession and slot receiver, limiting his ability to open up big plays.

Clark has been the longtime roommate of Peyton Manning during training camp, and both are very active in their local communities.  Clark purchases the cleats for his former high school each year, hosts an annual “Make-a-Wish” fundraiser which earned $500,000 last year, and sponsors a college scholarship in his name.

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