Ed Orgeron: NFL is getting 'an ascending player' with Damone Clark

Former LSU linebacker Damone Clark is coming off a strong Senior Bowl and got an invite to the NFL combine on Wednesday. Earlier this week, his now-former coach spoke about what he’d bring to an NFL team.

During an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, former LSU coach Ed Orgeron discussed Clark’s time in Baton Rouge and explained why he’s a solid NFL Draft prospect. He said this last year showed just how good he can be, considering he took a big leap in the Tigers’ defensive system.

“Damone is coming from some great character people, some hard-working folks and I loved his parents,” Orgeron said. “I saw the way they raised those young men, and I was impressed on my recruiting visit. Two years into Damone’s career, his parents come meet with me.

“I told them, I said, ‘Damone, you got to move to outside linebacker.’ He said, ‘Coach, I am going to play inside linebacker. I came here for that. … What do I need to [do to] get better?’ And we hired a new coach at linebacker, and Blake [Baker] and I met. … He had to get better at man coverage, and boy did he improve last year. The NFL’s going to get an ascending player with a great character young man. And again, his physical ability is off the charts.”

Damone Clark named top linebacker at Senior Bowl practice week

Plenty of college football talent from around the country was down in Mobile, Alabama, last week for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. One player who caught the attention of his peers this week in practice was former LSU linebacker Damone Clark. He was named the American Team’s top linebacker by the offensive line, tight end and running back groups.

He was expected to dominate this week after earning first team All-SEC honors this past season. Clark racked up 135 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

The 6-foot-3 linebacker clearly established himself among the nation’s elite at his position. Check out some clips of him this week in Mobile, going up against Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr.

Keep in mind, Robinson was named the top running back on the American Team by his peers. Not only that, he was also one of the top running backs in pass protection all week, so for Clark to get past him in a one-on-one drill was impressive. The former LSU linebacker also showed phenomenal coverage skills in blanketing Robinson down the field on a pass coverage drill.