Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Oct 25, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) rushes with the football during the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Player Summary

Corey Clement, a 2013 four-star recruit, has started two of 30 career games for Wisconsin. He originally committed to Pittsburgh, however decommitted and wound up at Wisconsin five months later. In three seasons with the Badgers, he’s rushed for 1,717 yards and 21 touchdowns on 262 carries while being a backup the majority of his college career.

2015 was expected to be a breakout season for Clement, as he was finally atop the depth chart. However a sports hernia injury suffered prior to the season limited him to just four games. He was also suspended for the regular-season finale after being cited for disorderly conduct for his role in an off-campus dispute. In 2016, he’s once again the projected starter as he enters his senior season. Clement possesses solid height and weight on a thick frame with very good athletic ability.

Measurables

Height: 5’10” 1/4

Weight: 219 pounds

Games Watched

2015: USC

2014: Auburn, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State

Strengths

After taking the handoff, Corey Clement utilizes good awareness and vision to locate the open running lane. He displays very good athletic ability as he possesses the play speed and burst to accelerate up to top speed quickly and explode through the hole before it closes. Once through the hole, he demonstrates solid balance and agility to change direction without slowing down.

When Clement puts all of that together, he’s a threat to score anytime he touches the football. Here are two examples of his athleticism on full display as he bursts through the hole and showcases what he’s capable of when healthy.

Clement has a tendency to hold the ball loosely, however protects it through contact. Ball security has not been an issue as he’s fumbled on just two of 279 career touches.

In limited action as a receiver, Clement has shown a solid ability to adjust to inaccurate passes and snatch the ball out of the air with his hands. After the catch, he gathers himself and turns upfield quickly. When not running routes in the passing game, he’s a willing blocker who has been most successful when chipping opponents.

Weaknesses

Corey Clement does not possess the ability to create on his own and will bounce plays outside if the designed hole isn’t open; resulting in lost yardage. Keeps legs churning after contact, but does not have the play strength to overpower defenders in the hole or the finishing ability to push the pile forward in order to maximize yards after contact.

Here’s an example of this as Clement is stuffed on third-and-short and can not generate the yards after contact needed to keep the chains moving.

Once through the initial hole, Clement lacks the top-end speed to separate from defensive backs in the secondary.

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The biggest issue with Clement’s tape is his marginal competitive toughness. Not only is his missing much of the 2015 season due to a sports hernia injury a part of this, but his lack of production in key situations is as well. Since 2014, Clement is averaging 1.7 yards per carry when inside the opponent’s 10-yard line and just 1.1 yards per carry on third or fourth and less than three yards to go. He’s also failed to rise to the occasion in big games, rushing 15 times for only 45 yards against LSU and a measly 14 yards against Ohio State in the 2014 Big Ten championship game.

Clement has the body type to be a workhorse back, however he has yet to take on that responsibility. In 30 career games at Wisconsin, he has never carried the ball more than 19 times. How he holds up late in games after carrying the ball 20 plus times is an unknown he must answer if he hopes to be a first or second-day pick in the draft.

Overall

Overall, Corey Clement is a backup running back who is best suited for a power running scheme where he can follow his lead blockers through the hole before utilizing good vision to determine where to go once he’s on the second level. He’s not a back that has proven capable of carrying the ball more than 10-15 times per game. As a result of inconsistent play and durability concerns, Corey Clement has a fourth-round grade heading into his senior season.

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