From Brooks Stadium to NFL: Jerrod Clark drafted

Coastal Carolina University alumni Jerrod Clark has recently accomplished the biggest goal a college athlete can, which is declaring for the National Football League Draft.

On Dec. 29 of last year, Clark announced his official declaration for the 2023 NFL draft by thanking everyone including teal nation. The draft was not his only accomplishment, as Clark was also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl Game.

“It was crazy cause I was on the phone with my parents and I was telling them like, I don’t know if I’m gonna get invited, you know, the invites have already gone out, I don’t know if I’m going to get one,” Clark said when asked about his Combine invitation.

It was only 15 minutes after the phone call when he received the email including his invitation.

This is a huge achievement for Clark, as there are only 319 prospects nationwide. Following his draft declaration, was the Senior Bowl. Played in Mobile, Alabama, the senior bowl showcases the best prospects to coaching staff from all 32 NFL teams.

Clark believes that Coastal prepared him well for the NFL, especially coach Skylor Magee, the former defensive line coach.

“That was really cool to have a coach who genuinely cares and shows that type of effort into wanting to see you be better as a person, not just as an athlete because you can go anywhere and get treated just like the athlete, but going somewhere where people actually genuinely care about you is a little different,” Clark said.

Taking the conversation back to life at Coastal, Clark went into detail about what it felt like playing for the University. Having fans in the stands was an energetic feeling to him, especially when they would provide the momentum that the team was failing to find.

One of the accomplishments he saw in his college career was being voted as a team captain for the Chanticleers. Team captains have the responsibilities of supporting the team and leading them through the highs and lows of the season.

“I had worked in the whole offseason, just trying to show the team how passionate I am about the goal, that I’m playing for my brothers not just myself,” the former captain said.

Hoping to return to Brooks Stadium, Clark represents CCU well. He left a message for future Chanticleers on facing adversity.

“Whether it’s in life or whether it’s in football, at some point you’re going to face some type of adversity,” Clark said. “The best thing to do is just not to give up. Not to quit on yourself and see it out.”