Clark Harris

Regarded by most as the school's finest tight end prospect since the Marco Battaglia era (1992-95), the four-year starter has been a model of consistency for the Scarlet Knights. Harris compiled a string of 38 consecutive games with at least one reception, the third-longest streak in Big East Conference history. Only three times over the past three season was he held without a reception. Clark was a standout tight end and defensive end at Southern Regional High School. He earned All-Ocean County honors from the Times-Observer and Star Ledger, and was an All-Atlantic City Press choice during his senior season. He was rated the 22nd-best tight end in the nation by Student Sports Magazine, adding All-American and All-Region honors from Prep Star. Harris led the team to a berth in the NJSIAA's South Jersey Group IV playoffs, as he made 29 tackles, including six sacks and seven stops behind the line of scrimmage while also recovering two fumbles, returning one for a score in 2001. He also caught seven passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns that year. Of his 13 career receptions in a run-oriented offense, five went for scores. The three-year starter also handled the long-snapping duties, earning a spot on the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Super 100 football team. Harris also played basketball and competed in track. He was selected to compete in the North-South New Jersey All-Star Basketball Game. He finished fifth in the Meet of Champions in the javelin with a throw of 180' 3" as a junior and placed fourth in the javelin at the Penn Relays as a senior. He graduated as a Rotary Club Scholar-Athlete and played for New Jersey in the 2002 Governor's Bowl. Harris enrolled at Rutgers in 2002, spending the season on the scout team. He moved into the lineup in 2003, catching 18 passes for 213 yards (11.8 avg) for a run-oriented offense. He also made three tackles (two solos). As a sophomore, he earned All-Big East Conference first-team honors, as he led the league's tight ends with 53 receptions for 725 yards (13.7 avg) and five touchdowns. He also delivered three solo tackles. Harris repeated as an All-Big East Conference first-team choice in 2005. He led the team into postseason action, compiling 584 yards with four touchdowns on 38 catches (15.4 avg) while also making one solo tackle. In 2006, Clark continued to start at tight end, but the team shifted back to a run-oriented attack. He started all 13 games, ranking second on the team with 34 receptions for 493 yards (14.5 avg) and two touchdowns. In 48 games at Rutgers, Clark started 33 times. He caught 143 passes for 2,015 yards (14.1 avg). His 11 touchdown catches rank tied for seventh in Scralet Knights annals. He also recorded eight tackles (seven solos).

positives

Has a tall, thick frame with good overall muscle definition...Shows enough of a short-area burst to get into his routes, planting and driving with precision coming out of his breaks, despite demonstrating some stiff hips...Alert to soft spots when working into the zone...Normal rep type who can make adjustments on the field...His size presents an inviting target for the quarterback over the middle of the field...Does not have the valid speed to threaten the deep zones, but is good at planting and driving out of his breaks, especially when working in drag routes...Does a good job of using his size creating mismatches vs. smaller defenders to separate after the catch...Has the body frame to shield the ball from defenders and does a good job of looking the ball in...Shows good effort to secure the ball before running with it, and fumbling is not an issue...When he looks the ball in and absorbs it with his body, he does a good job of securing the ball before turning up field.

compares to

MATT SCHOBEL-Philadelphia...If utilized in a short-area passing attack, Harris has shown the ability to move the chains. But he lacks fluid hips and speed to stretch the field and is more of a liability as a blocker than even a pester-type. His size is his best asset, but Harris needs to add more strength, especially in the lower body, as he will have to rely more on breaking tackles than trying to elude (lacks the quickness).

negatives

Needs to increase his lower body bulk, as his legs look a bit thin (appears top heavy and could carry another 10 pounds of bulk while improving his overall power base)...Must play at a lower pad level when blocking, as he does not have the lower body strength to compensate when he gets too narrow in his stance...Talks a good game off the field, but you don't see that "fire in the belly" attitude you expect from elite players...Has decent upper body power, but perhaps due to his shorter than ideal arms, he struggles to defeat the press, especially vs. linebackers...Gets off the line with a rolling start, so he will not be able to surprise a defender...Needs to generate steadier acceleration down the seam, but does a good job adjusting to off-target throws...Takes a rolling start coming out of his stance, lacking the suddenness to ride up on a defender or gobble up the cushion...Needs to build to top speed quicker and until he does, he is better served being used only on short, delayed or underneath routes...Can get into his routes underneath, but is too inconsistent in attempts to readily separate...Must be more conscious of timing his leaps rather than looking the ball in, as the cornerbacks and safeties have had success batting passes away from him...Shows an effort to adjust to off-target throws, but his hip stiffness makes him appear mechanical when trying to reach and pluck away from his frame...As a blocker, he must generate more force behind his hand punch and he short arms too much, resulting in defenders slipping off his blocks due to marginal hand placement...Has very good balance, but marginal hip shake running with the ball...Too stiff in his hips to consistently sell the route...Takes soft angle cuts when asked to block in the second level and doesn't seem too interested in neutralizing those linebackers.

2002: Underwent right shoulder surgery in early November. 2003: Had right knee surgery in April.

Campus: 4.86 in the 40-yard dash

345-pound bench press

31-inch vertical jump

31-inch arm length

9 3/4-inch hands

Right-handed

Wears contacts. Combine: 4.83 in the 40-yard dash

1.70 10-yard dash

2.81 20-yard dash

4.40 20-yard shuttle

32-inch vertical jump

9'4" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times.

Attended Southern Regional (Manahawkin, N.J.) High School, playing football for head coach Chuck Donahue

Standout tight end and defensive end, earning All-Ocean County honors from the Times-Observer and Star Ledger, and was an All-Atlantic City Press choice during his senior season

Rated the 22nd-best tight end in the nation by Student Sports Magazine, adding All-American and All-Region honors from Prep Star

Led the team to a berth in the NJSIAA's South Jersey Group IV playoffs, as he made 29 tackles, including six sacks and seven stops behind the line of scrimmage while also recovering two fumbles, returning one for a score in 2001

Also caught seven passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns that year

Of his 13 career receptions in a run-oriented offense, five went for scores

The three-year starter also handled the long-snapping duties, earning a spot on the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Super 100 football team

The versatile athlete also played basketball and competed in track

. Was selected to compete in the North-South New Jersey All-Star Basketball Game

Finished fifth in the Meet of Champions in the javelin with a throw of 180' 3" as a junior and placed fourth in the javelin at the Penn Relays as a senior

Graduated as a Rotary Club Scholar-Athlete and played for New Jersey in the 2002 Governor's Bowl.

Criminal Justice major

Born 7/10/84

Resides in Manahawkin, New Jersey.