UCLA Football: Kenny Clark Declares For The NFL Draft and What That Means For The Defense

UCLA Football junior defensive tackle Kenny Clark will forego his final year over eligibility and head to the NFL Draft.

The UCLA Football team got a lot thinner on the defensive line as defensive tackle Kenny Clark declared for the NFL Draft.

One of the only bright spots in the rushing game and on the defensive line this season was Clark. At 6’3″, 310 lbs. Clark was quite an athletic specimen for the Bruins and has been impressive in all three of his years in Westwood.

UCLA Bruins

This year, Clark was second on the team in tackles with 75 (47 solo, 28 assisted). He was also second on the team in tackles for a loss with 11 and second in sacks with 6. On top of that, he even played well against the pass, deflecting 5 in the season. Though it is hard to see him go, he will definitely make some NFL team very happy.

But now, what does that mean for the UCLA defensive front next year?

Though this could have been the dream season on the line with Eddie Vanderdoes, EV’s season-ending injury in Game 1 led Clark to be the only big guy in the line. Well that role will be flipped next year.

With Clark gone, Vanderdoes is likely to return. Along with Takkarist McKinley, there will still be some experience. The Bruins also return the services of Eli Ankou, Matt Dickerson and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. who should be better suited to the run game with a year of experience under their belt.

The Bruins even have four DLs coming in next year with Nick Terry and Osa Odighizuwa at tackle and Marcus Moore and Breland Brandt at the ends.

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From a way-too-early perspective, it seems the defensive line could improve next year, but even that is saying a lot. UCLA is going to have to make some big changes if they want to avoid being 8th in the Pac-12 again, giving up nearly 200 yards on the ground.

Good luck, Clark and Go Bruins!