Dallas Cowboys 2025 UDFA scouting report: DB Alijah Clark

Here is our report on defensive back Alijah Clark

We begin looking into this year’s undrafted free agent signings made by the Dallas Cowboys and give you our scouting report on each player. Today we are looking at defensive back Alijah Clark from Syracuse.

Alijah Clark

DB
Syracuse Orange
Senior
4-star recruit
6’1”
188 lbs

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

History

Alijah Clark, or also known by his nickname “Cinco” (a nickname given his mother when he started playing football at age five), was born on July 11, 2003, in Camden, New Jersey, Clark. He was a standout student-athlete at Camden High School, earning a four-star recruit status from 247Sports. He played both wide receiver and defensive back in high school, showcasing versatility with 21 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns on offense, and 22 tackles on defense during an abbreviated 2020 season.

Clark’s collegiate journey began at Rutgers in 2021 where he appeared in seven games, recording six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception. He made his collegiate debut against Temple and notched his first interception against Michigan State.

The following year saw Clark transfer to Syracuse where he started 11 of 12 games at safety. He tallied 56 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. Notably, he was not responsible for a single passing touchdown over 576 defensive snaps, contributing to a defense that ranked 14th nationally in passing defense.

In 2023, Clark started 12 of 13 games, recording 66 tackles, five tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. His two fumble recoveries tied for third-most in the ACC that season. He had standout performances against Army (eight tackles) and Clemson (six tackles, two pass breakups).

In his final collegiate season, Clark appeared in 12 games, accumulating 61 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and four pass breakups. He earned Defensive MVP in the Holiday Bowl after recording six tackles and an interception against Washington State.

2024 Statistics

591 Defensive Snaps
326 Coverage Snaps
61 Total Tackles
3 TFL
4 Pass Breakups
1 INT
92.3 Passer Rating Allowed
68% Completion Rate Allowed
1 Penalty

NFL Combine/Pro Day

10-Yard Split- 1.53s (78%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.50s (73%)
Vert- 33” (19%)
Broad- 122” (58%)

Awards

N/A

Scorecard:

Speed- 75
Acceleration- 76
Agility- 72
Strength- 66
Tackling- 64
Run Defense- 75
Zone Coverage- 73
Man Coverage- 67
Press- 66
Discipline- 91

THE GOOD

• Has shown tremendous versatility having lined up as a split safety, in the box, and in the slot.
• He has the range to play deep and the toughness to fit the run as a box defender.
• In run defense he consistently takes good angles and doesn’t shy away from contact.
• Shows good route recognition and awareness, especially in zone coverage.
• Rarely caught out of position.
• Effective wrapping up, especially in one-on-one situations.
• Has very good work ethic, maturity, and resilience off the field. Vocal leader in the secondary.

THE BAD

• Doesn’t possess good top-end speed, which could limit his range in single-high or deep coverage responsibilities in the NFL.
• Can struggle to mirror quicker slot receivers.
• His instincts are solid, but closing burst and hands could be more consistent.
• Lacks takeaways during his time in college. Only two interceptions and one forced fumble in 44 college games.
• When beaten initially, he lacks the ability to recover and contest plays downfield.

THE FIT

Alijah Clark is a smart, physical, and sensible safety who excels in zone-heavy schemes that allow him to read the quarterback and support the run. His toughness, tackling, and football IQ make him an interesting prospect who can contribute early on special teams and develop into a rotational player at the next level. He is best suited as a strong safety or in a split-safety look where he can operate downhill and keep the play in front of him.

Clark brings leadership, physicality, and positional versatility to a defense. He’s a strong tackler, dependable in run support, and processes the game at a high level. His zone instincts and ability to quickly diagnose plays make him a valuable asset in coverage and run fits alike. He’s also durable and has shown improvement each season, with a strong close to his career.

To thrive at the next level, Clark will need to refine his man coverage skills and turn more of his disruption into turnovers. While he won’t be asked to play single-high often, improving his range and straight-line speed would boost his ceiling and role flexibility considerably. It’s clear he has it between the ears, but now he needs to work on athleticism aspect to become more well-rounded.

Clark fits Dallas’ need for depth, physicality, and football IQ in the secondary. He’s not the flashiest athlete, but he could quietly become a Matt Eberflus favorite as a steady, assignment-sound safety who doesn’t miss tackles, communicates well, and does the dirty work that lets stars shine. He’d a smart value signing as a UDFA, with a realistic path to contributing on special teams in Year 1.

Clark could serve as a reliable backup early on and push for snaps in sub-packages or even as a rotational starter down the line. Clark’s toughness and consistent tackling would add value, especially on early downs and red-zone defense against the run, something this Cowboys defense has struggled with in the past. Clark could be a decent player initially to help on special teams and look to develop from there.

COMPARISON:

Vonn Bell, New Orleans Saints

BTB GRADE:

264th

CONSENSUS RANKING:

366th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)