Alijah Clark
{{Short description|American football player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Alijah Clark
|image= File:Alijah Clark at Syracuse Orange football quad walk (2024) 03.jpg
|caption= Clark at Syracuse University in 2024.
|currentteam=Dallas Cowboys
| number =
| position = Safety
| birth_date =
| birth_place = {{birth date and age|2003|7|11}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 187
| high_school = Camden High School
| college = Rutgers (2021)
Syracuse (2022–2025)
|undraftedyear=2025
|pastteams=
- Dallas Cowboys ({{nfly|2025}}–present)
|status=Active
| highlights =
}}
Alijah Clark (born July 11, 2003) is an American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse and Rutgers.
Early life and high school
Clark attended Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey. As a sophomore, he put up 285 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, 174 rushing yards and two rushing scores, along with 35 tackles, five interceptions, seven pass deflections, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown on defense.{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=Todderick |title=Camden athlete Alijah Clark a top 2021 target for Rutgers’ Greg Schiano with a weekend visit to come |url=https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2020/01/camden-athlete-alijah-clark-a-top-2021-target-for-rutgers-greg-schiano-with-a-weekend-visit-on-tap.html |website=NJ.com |access-date=16 April 2025}} Coming out of high school he was rated as a four-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights over held offers from schools such as Temple, N.C. State, West Virginia, UMass, Maryland, Kentucky, Purdue, Miami, Ohio state, Florida, and Florida State.{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=Todderick |title=Camden’s Alijah Clark gets rating boost, becomes Rutgers’ newest 4-star commit: How many will Greg Schiano land in 2021 class? |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2020/08/camdens-alijah-clark-gets-rating-boost-becomes-rutgers-newest-4-star-pledge-how-many-will-greg-schiano-grab-in-2021-class.html |website=NJ.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=Todderick |title=Meet Camden’s Alijah Clark, a top up-and-comer from N.J.'s 2021 class |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2019/08/meet-camdens-alijah-clark-a-top-up-and-comer-from-new-jerseys-2021-class-where-does-his-recruitment-stand.html |website=NJ.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}
College career
= Rutgers =
As a freshman in 2021, Clark appeared in seven games, where he notched six tackles and an interception; he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal after the season.{{cite web |last1=Kratch |first1=James |title=Rutgers DB Alijah Clark enters NCAA transfer portal |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/2022/01/rutgers-db-alijah-clark-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal.html?_sp=ff71c621-a3d7-4208-be4d-6bf6d3c325b0.1744833988920 |website=NJ.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}
= Syracuse =
Clark transferred to play for the Syracuse Orange.{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Chris |title=Syracuse football adds to its secondary stars with Rutgers transfer Alijah Clark, a former four-star recruit |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2022/01/syracuse-football-adds-to-its-secondary-stars-with-rutgers-transfer-alijah-clark-a-former-four-star-recruit.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=16 April 2025}} In 2022, he tallied 55 tackles in 12 starts.{{cite web |last1=Stepansky |first1=Aiden |title=Syracuse DB Alijah Clark declares for 2025 NFL Draft |url=https://dailyorange.com/2025/01/syracuse-football-alijah-clark-decalres-nfl-draft/ |website=The Daily Orange |access-date=16 April 2025}} In the 2023 season opener, Clark notched seven tackles and a fumble recovery in a win over Colgate.{{cite web |last1=Leiker |first1=Emily |title=Syracuse football’s Alijah Clark says there are ‘no boundaries’ for him in Rocky Long’s defense |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2023/09/syracuse-footballs-alijah-clark-says-theres-no-boundaries-for-him-in-rocky-longs-defense.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=16 April 2025}} In week 4 of the 2023 season, he notched a game-high eight tackles in a win over Army.{{cite web |last1=Supple |first1=Sydney |title=For Alijah Clark, Music is an Outlet |url=https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/football/for-alijah-clark-music-is-an-outlet |work=Syracuse Orange on SI |publisher=SI.com |access-date=16 April 2025}} During the 2023 season, Clark notched 65 tackles, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.{{cite web |last1=Leiker |first1=Emily |title=Which Syracuse football players made Phil Steele’s list of top NFL draft-eligible prospects? |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2024/06/which-syracuse-football-players-made-phil-steeles-list-of-top-draft-eligible-players.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=16 April 2025}} In 2024, he recorded 61 tackles with three being for a loss, four pass deflections, and an interception in 12 games.{{cite web |title=Alijah Clark College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/alijah-clark-1.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=16 April 2025}} After the season, Clark declared for the 2025 NFL draft, while also accepting an invite to participate in the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl.{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Chris |title=Syracuse football’s Oronde Gadsden II, Alijah Clark and Fadil Diggs all accept invitations to Shrine Bowl |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2024/12/syracuse-footballs-oronde-gadsden-ii-and-alijah-clark-accept-invitations-to-shrine-bowl.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}
Professional career
Clark signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2025.{{cite web|title=Dallas Cowboys 2025 undrafted free agency tracker: All reported names the Cowboys are signing|url=https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2025/4/26/24418194/dallas-cowboys-2025-undrafted-free-agency-tracker-reported-names-signing-rumors-draft|work=Blogging the Boys|date=April 26, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://scarletknights.com/sports/football/roster/alijah-clark/10411 Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio]
- [https://cuse.com/sports/football/roster/Alijah-Clark/23310 Syracuse Orange bio]
{{Dallas Cowboys roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Alijah}}
Category:American football safeties
Category:Camden High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Players of American football from Camden, New Jersey
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players