Georgia Tech Recruiting: Javion Clark Commits! (for 2023)

A surprising name popped into my Twitter feed last night when I saw the newest football commitment to Georgia Tech. Like many Tech fans, I’m continuing to adjust to this new reality of recruiting happening on multiple tracks at once; commitments continue to come in for both the 2022 and 2023 classes. Late Monday night, Javion Clark became the third member of the 2023 class.

A 6-2, 175 lb. safety, Clark has a good frame that should continue filling out while he keeps improving his athleticism. He plays his high school ball for Jones County in the very center of the state of Georgia, and his team made the AAAAA playoffs last season. Of note, he’s good friends with top 2023 target Zavion Hardy, who plays DL for nearby Tatnall Square in Macon

Clark has not received much in the way of evaluation, and unfortunately, he’ll be missing the upcoming season because of an offseason ACL injury. So far, his only offers were from GT and Jacksonville State, and he has not been rated by any of the major recruiting services. This commitment may be one that Tech fans have to monitor for a while, waiting for his senior season to see how his recovery and development progress.

Over the course of his sophomore season, Clark piled up 85 tackles, 8 pass breakups, and 1 INT.

Given his slight build, the player on tape was not who I was expecting. He is a thumper in run defense who also has the versatility to line up as a single high safety playing a centerfield kind of role. In his run pursuit, he takes excellent angles to the ball carrier and knows how to keep both inside and outside leverage. His speed is adequate but not elite.

Two particular highlight plays jumped out at me. At the 25 second mark, Clark demolishes a swing pass to a running back while displaying explosiveness and sound technique. A few plays later, he doesn’t get off the ball very well, but he’s able to use his quick hips and feet to keep position on the inside hip of the receiver and make a tremendous play on a poorly thrown ball. We don’t get a whole lot of data to assess his pass coverage skills, as there are only 3 passing plays in the whole highlight tape. What we do see is an aggressive run stopper who has the athleticism and instincts to make up for current deficiencies in coverage technique. It’s really a shame he won’t have his junior season to develop, but the GT defensive coaching staff will continue to monitor him on the camp circuit and into his senior season.

2023 Class Update

16 months away from the early signing period for this class, GT has three commitments. Of those, only Javin Simpkins has been rated in the 247 composite. He checks in as a 93.32 4 star, which is right up there with the highest rated commitment in the current class. By himself, he’s enough to slot GT in at 11th nationally very early in the 2023 cycle.

Welcome Javion to the Flats!