Tight end Chris Clark, who was one of the top tight ends in the 2015 recruiting class, has decided he will transfer to Syracuse. The news was first reported by CuseNation.com. Clark told CuseNation he plans to enroll at the university in January.
This all happened so quickly that a lot of us don’t really know much about Clark. Here’s the rundown. Chris Clark was a 5-star recruit in the 2015 class. He was rated a top 5 tight end on all major recruiting sites, and in February he signed with UCLA. After one game with the Bruins, Clark announced he would transfer, citing homesickness. A few weeks ago Clark said he had narrowed his transfer choices down to Syracuse and Pittsburgh, and has since visited both schools. Yesterday, he chose Orange.
The good news: Clark is a beast. ESPN lists him at 6’6″ 247 pounds, and he looks the part on the field. In his high school tapes Clark makes defenders look like pee wee players, and his ability to run given his size is impressive. What surprised me most while watching his tapes, though, was his hands. If it wasn’t for Clark’s towering frame over his competitors, you would forget he was a tight end and mistake him for a wide receiver. He can get the jump ball or beat out a defender downfield, and his awareness in the open field is nothing to laugh about. This is, of course, against high school competition, but it will be exciting to see how his game transfers to the college level. The upside is there.
But, as there always seems to be with this team, there is a downside. First off, Clark might have to wait a while to get on the field. Syracuse will apply for a waiver to the NCAA to forego Clark’s required year of sitting out, but as of right now he wouldn’t be able to play for the Orange until 2017. Hopefully Syracuse is able to get him on the field next year, but Syracuse fans know far too well that wit hthe NCAA you can never be too sure.
Another measure for caution: Clark has commitment issues.¬†When he was being recruited he commited and decomitted from both North Carolina and Michigan before choosing UCLA, and he left the Bruins less than a month after getting to campus. His commitment to North Carolina lasted a month, and Michigan’s lasted six months. I don’t know what goes on in recruits’ heads, but if Clark isn’t playing until 2017 he’ll have a lot of time to change his mind again.
What do you think Clark’s commitment means for the future of the Orange? Leave your comments below and we might use it on Fizz Radio! Follow us on Twitter @OrangeFizz for up-to-the-minute updates on Syracuse sports and recruiting.
Posted: Nathan Dickinson
