Immediate reaction, RB Christian Clark selects Texas

Not 15 minutes before Christian Clark committed to Texas I wrote the following after wondering if Tashard Choice should take two running backs:

As you can tell from the section above, numbers are pretty tight at a time where the staff has to land a large defensive line class. Including Edge, the number has to be around 7-8.

To be clear, I expect the staff to take two running backs but the future of the position is healthy with Jonathon Brooks, Cedric Baxter, Jaydon Blue, Savion Red, and Tre Wisner on campus. The 2025 big board is also as healthy as the 2024 version. 

In my opinion, and probably my opinion alone, that extra scholarship and resources would be more wisely used on defense. 

Flame away.

I had Clark in mind while writing that, not because I don’t like Jerrick Gibson, but because I love Clark. To me, Gibson has a high floor and will approximate Eric Gray, the former Tennessee and Oklahoma running back. Behind a good offensive line, I think Gibson can be quite productive. I just view Clark as potentially special thanks to size, agility, feet, all combined with his speed. 

Because he shared the backfield so much as a junior, Clark’s production wasn’t eye-popping, but production doesn’t follow players to college, traits do.

Texas had been in good shape with Clark well before he ever visited campus. It was one of the rare instances where a Texas prediction before a player made it to campus wouldn’t have been crazy. His first visit went very well but his official visit clearly put this recruitment over the top. Once he canceled his official visit to Georgia, it just became a matter of time.

For clarity sake, I’m not saying Texas will only take one running back. I’m just making the point of how high I am on Texas’ newest commit. Clark has the makings of a high-end inside/outside runner who possesses both power and speed. Since he’s from Arizona, comparisons to Bijan Robinson will be made, but I think he’s more Cedric Baxter. Clark does have some unique elusiveness to him, though.

Welcome to the 40 Acres, Christian Clark.

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