Clark Phillips III is an American professional football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. A four-star recruit from La Habra, California who became the highest-rated player ever to sign with the University of Utah, he was a unanimous All-American in 2022 before being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Now entering his fourth NFL season, he is returning from a triceps injury that cut his 2025 campaign to just one game and competing for a starting role alongside A.J. Terrell in Atlanta’s secondary.
Clark Phillips III Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Clark Dwaine Phillips III |
| Date of Birth | December 19, 2001 |
| Age (2026) | 24 years old |
| Birthplace | Lakewood, California, USA |
| Hometown | La Habra, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian (raised in faith-centered household; family attends Unity Missionary Baptist Church) |
| Caste or Community | Not applicable |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Eye Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hair Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Professional Football Player (Cornerback) |
| Known For | 2022 Unanimous All-American; Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year; Atlanta Falcons CB; highest-rated recruit to sign with Utah |
| Father’s Name | Clark Phillips (Sr./II); pastor |
| Mother’s Name | Lakeisha Phillips |
| Siblings | Bryce Phillips (younger brother; CB at San Diego State); two sisters (names not publicly confirmed) |
| Marital Status | Not publicly confirmed |
| Girlfriend | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | None confirmed |
| School | La Habra High School, La Habra, California |
| College or University | University of Utah (2020 to 2022) |
| Degree or Qualification | Not publicly confirmed (departed after junior year for NFL Draft) |
| Political Party | N/A |
| Current Position or Role | Cornerback, Atlanta Falcons (2023 to present); returning from 2025 triceps injury |
| Net Worth (estimated) | Approx. $1 to $2 million USD (not officially confirmed) |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | Approx. $96,000/month (based on $1,153,382 average annual salary per four-year contract) |
| Twitter/X | Not publicly confirmed |
| Not publicly confirmed | |
| Not publicly confirmed | |
| YouTube | Not publicly confirmed |
| Official Website | Not publicly confirmed |
Clark Phillips III NFL Career Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | GS | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | INT | PD | FF | Notes |
| 2023 | Atlanta Falcons | 11 | 5 | 28 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | Missed first 9 weeks; started final 4 games |
| 2024 | Atlanta Falcons | 16 | 2 | 35 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | First career INT; career-best season |
| 2025 | Atlanta Falcons | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Triceps injury Week 4; placed on IR Oct 18 |
| Career | Atlanta Falcons | 28 | 7 | 63 | 50 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 | Per Wikipedia/Pro Football Reference |
Clark Phillips III College Career Statistics
| Season | GP | GS | Tackles | INT | PBU | Notes |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 1 | True freshman starter; immediate impact |
| 2021 | 14 | 14 | 63 | 2 | 9 | Second-team All-Pac-12 |
| 2022 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 6 | 4 | Unanimous All-American; Pac-12 Defensive POY |
| Career | 31 | 31 | 110+ | 9 | 14+ | Started every game played |
Clark Phillips III Awards and Achievements
| Year | Achievement | Notes |
| 2019 | Orange County Register Defensive Player of the Year | La Habra High School |
| 2019 | 2019 All-USA First Team Defense | USA Today; high school |
| 2019 | Three-time first-team all-county | Orange County |
| 2021 | Second-team All-Pac-12 | University of Utah |
| 2022 | Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year | University of Utah |
| 2022 | Unanimous All-American | AP, Sporting News, Walter Camp, FWAA, CBS/247 Sports, The Athletic |
| 2022 | Jim Thorpe Award finalist | Given to nation’s top DB |
| 2022 | Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist | Given to nation’s top defensive player |
| 2023 | Selected 113th overall, 2023 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons; fourth round |
Clark Phillips III Events
| Year | Event |
| 2001 | Born December 19 in Lakewood, California |
| 2016 | Enrolls at La Habra High School; plays corner and wide receiver |
| 2018 | Named 2018 All-USA California Football First Team |
| 2019 | Named Orange County Defensive Player of the Year; 2019 All-USA First Team Defense; commits to Ohio State |
| December 2019 | Flips commitment from Ohio State to University of Utah; highest-rated recruit ever to sign with Utah |
| 2020 | True freshman starter at Utah; plays 5 games; records 25 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU |
| 2021 | Full starter; 14 games; 63 tackles, 2 INT; named second-team All-Pac-12 |
| 2022 | Junior season; 12 games; 6 INT; named unanimous All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year; Jim Thorpe Award finalist |
| January 2023 | Declares for NFL Draft after junior season |
| April 2023 | Selected 113th overall by Atlanta Falcons in fourth round of 2023 NFL Draft |
| May 2023 | Signs four-year rookie scale contract ($4,613,528 total; $1,153,382 average annual salary) |
| 2023 | Does not take a defensive snap until Week 10; starts final four games of regular season |
| 2024 | Career-best season; 16 games, 35 tackles, career-first INT, 5 PD, 2 FF |
| October 18, 2025 | Placed on injured reserve with triceps injury after playing only Week 4 |
| 2026 | Returns from triceps injury; competes for starting role in Atlanta secondary |
Clark Phillips III Early Life and Family
Clark Dwaine Phillips III was born on December 19, 2001, in Lakewood, California, and grew up in La Habra, a city in Orange County in the greater Los Angeles area. He was raised in a deeply faith-centered household anchored by his father’s pastoral ministry, a background that shaped his character and his approach to the pressures of elite sport from an early age.
Clark Phillips III Father
His father’s name is Clark Phillips, who goes by the numerical designation that makes his son the third of that name in the family. The senior Phillips describes himself as a pastor, husband, father, and servant leader, and is publicly identified with Unity Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation his family helped found. He also identifies as the father of Clark Phillips III and Bryce Phillips in his public social media presence. His own background includes football, giving the household an athletic tradition alongside its spiritual one.
Clark Phillips III Mother
His mother is Lakeisha Phillips. She is referenced in the Atlanta Falcons’ official profile alongside her husband as the parents of Clark Phillips III and is consistently mentioned in coverage of the family’s role in supporting his development.
Clark Phillips III Siblings and Family Background
He has three siblings: a younger brother, Bryce Phillips, who is also a cornerback and competed at San Diego State University after earlier stints at Santa Ana College; and two sisters whose names are not publicly confirmed in any credible source. His brother Bryce is described as a close bond and a motivating figure in his athletic development. The family attended Unity Missionary Baptist Church, where their father’s pastoral leadership reinforced principles of discipline, humility, and faith that carried directly into how Clark Phillips III approaches football.
In a December 2023 podcast on the Atlanta Falcons’ official YouTube channel, Phillips discussed growing up in the church his grandfather founded, describing the faith environment as central to his confidence and character on the field.
Clark Phillips III Education
La Habra High School in La Habra, California was where Clark Phillips III announced himself as one of the best defensive backs in California. He played both cornerback and wide receiver, excelling on both sides of the ball.
As a junior, he recorded 18 tackles, two interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 54 catches for 1,210 yards and 19 touchdowns. As a senior in 2019 he had 28 tackles, four interceptions, seven passes defensed, 30 receptions for 435 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named the Orange County Register Defensive Player of the Year, a three-time first-team all-county selection, the 2019 All-USA First Team Defense selection, and the 2018 All-USA California Football First Team selection. He was also named the Freeway League Player of the Year as a junior.
He originally committed to Ohio State University, one of the nation’s premier programs for developing defensive backs into NFL draft picks. In December 2019, in what he later described as the hardest decision of his life, he flipped his commitment to the University of Utah, becoming the highest-rated recruit ever to sign with the program.
He enrolled at Utah in 2020 and departed after his junior season in January 2023 to enter the NFL Draft, leaving without a confirmed completed degree.
Clark Phillips III Career
Size is the only number that does not immediately fit Clark Phillips III’s NFL profile. At 5 ft 9 in and 185 lb, he is undersized for a cornerback at the professional level. Everything else in his record argues against that being a liability.
Clark Phillips III at the University of Utah
He was an immediate starter at Utah as a true freshman in 2020, playing all five available games during that COVID-shortened season and recording 25 tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup. By 2021, playing a full 14-game season, he had established himself as one of the Pac-12’s most complete cornerbacks with 63 tackles, two interceptions, and nine pass breakups, earning second-team All-Pac-12 recognition.
His 2022 junior season produced one of the most dominant individual cornerback performances in college football that year. Playing 12 games, he recorded six interceptions and four pass breakups, held opposing quarterbacks to a QB rating of just 68.4 when targeting him, and earned unanimous All-American recognition from every major outlet, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, a Jim Thorpe Award finalist nod (given to the nation’s top defensive back), and a Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist designation. He started all 31 games he played across his three seasons at Utah, a consistency that scouts cited alongside his ball production as evidence of elite reliability.
Clark Phillips III in the NFL
He was selected 113th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie scale contract worth $4,613,528, with an average annual value of $1,153,382.
His 2023 rookie season started slowly. He did not take a defensive snap until Week 10, working his way onto the field as the season progressed. Once he got his opportunity, he held onto it, starting the final four games of the season. His play down the stretch gave the Falcons reason to develop him into a rotation piece.
The 2024 season was his best at the professional level. He appeared in all 16 regular season games with two starts, finishing with 35 tackles, five pass defenses including a first career interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. His trajectory suggested a player on the verge of establishing himself as a starter.
That momentum was interrupted in 2025. He dealt with a rib injury in the preseason that limited his preparation. He played one game, Week 4 against the Washington Commanders, logging one solo tackle on nine special teams snaps before being placed on injured reserve on October 18, 2025, with a triceps injury. He missed the remainder of the season. He was cleared to practice in Week 17 and had one final chance to appear in Week 18, though the Falcons’ rotation decisions kept him limited.
Entering 2026 healthy and motivated, he returns to compete in a Falcons secondary that still needs a reliable running mate for A.J. Terrell at the cornerback position.
Clark Phillips III Religion and Community
What is Clark Phillips III’s Religion
Clark Phillips III is a Christian, raised in a deeply faith-centered household at Unity Missionary Baptist Church, which his grandfather founded. His father serves as pastor of the church and has described faith as the foundation of the family’s approach to discipline and purpose. Phillips himself has spoken publicly about growing up in the church environment as central to his confidence and character on the field.
What is Clark Phillips III’s Community
He is an African American man from La Habra in Orange County, California. His roots in the Southern California football and church communities shaped both his athletic development and his personal values.
Clark Phillips III Personal Life and Relationships
Clark Phillips III keeps his personal life private. His relationship status and girlfriend are not publicly confirmed in any credible source.
Is Clark Phillips III Married
He is not married. No credible source confirms a marriage or engagement.
Clark Phillips III Girlfriend
No girlfriend or romantic partner is publicly confirmed in any credible source.
Clark Phillips III Children
He has no confirmed children.
Clark Phillips III Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Clark Phillips III stands at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighs 185 lb (84 kg). His height is below average for an NFL cornerback, a fact that scouts and analysts noted throughout his draft process. However, his coverage instincts, physicality, and ability to play both man and zone coverage have consistently overshadowed the size concern. His 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine was used in evaluations of his athleticism alongside his tape.
Clark Phillips III Net Worth and Earnings
Clark Phillips III signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the Atlanta Falcons in May 2023 worth $4,613,528 in total, with an average annual salary of $1,153,382. His estimated net worth is approximately $1 to $2 million, reflecting his three years of professional earnings to date.
| Source | Amount | Notes |
| Four-year rookie contract | $4,613,528 total | Signed May 2023; Atlanta Falcons |
| Average annual salary | $1,153,382 | Per EssentiallySports/Spotrac |
| Net worth estimate | $1 to $2 million | Not officially confirmed |
Clark Phillips III Social Media
| Platform | Notes |
| Not publicly confirmed as a verified handle in any credible source | |
| Twitter/X | Not publicly confirmed as a verified handle in any credible source |
Clark Phillips III does not maintain a widely documented public social media presence. His public profile exists primarily through team media, NFL game coverage, and draft-era reporting.
Lesser Known Facts About Clark Phillips III
- He was the highest-rated recruit ever to sign with the University of Utah, a four-star prospect whose decision to flip from Ohio State to the Utes was described by him as the hardest decision of his life.
- He started every single game he played during his three-year college career, 31 consecutive starts, a remarkable mark of consistency for a player who entered as a true freshman starter.
- In a December 2023 podcast on the Falcons’ official YouTube channel, he discussed growing up in a church that his grandfather founded, describing his faith background as the source of his confidence on the football field.
- He played both cornerback and wide receiver at La Habra High School, recording numbers on offense such as 54 catches for 1,210 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior alongside his defensive production, demonstrating the kind of dual-sport football athleticism that few defensive backs bring to their position.
- His 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds at the 2023 NFL Combine placed him in the discussion about whether his speed matched his tape. Marc Ross of NFL Network specifically cited traits in his game that are “hard to find” in an NFL cornerback, arguing his instincts outweighed the measurable concerns.
- He did not take a single defensive snap until Week 10 of his 2023 rookie season, yet started the final four games of the year and then appeared in all 16 regular season games in 2024. His rise from non-factor to rotation piece in a single year reflects his work ethic and football IQ.
- His younger brother Bryce Phillips is also a cornerback, having played at Santa Ana College before moving to San Diego State University, carrying the Phillips family football tradition into the next generation.
- His father Clark Phillips Sr. describes himself publicly as a pastor, husband, father, and servant leader, and explicitly references being the father of Clark Phillips III and Bryce Phillips in his social media biography, reflecting a family culture of public accountability and shared identity.
- He was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist in 2022, an honour given to the nation’s top defensive back in college football, placing him in consideration for one of the sport’s most prestigious individual defensive honours.
- His 2025 season lasted exactly one game and nine special teams snaps before a triceps injury ended his year in Week 4. He was cleared to practice in December 2025 and enters 2026 fully healthy for the first time since his career-best 2024 campaign.
At 24 and returning healthy from injury, Clark Phillips III enters the 2026 NFL season with both the track record and the motivation of a player who knows what he is capable of. His 2024 season showed a cornerback with the instincts, ball-hawking ability, and physical toughness to thrive in the NFL. The 2025 injury was a setback but not a story. The next chapter begins now.
Clark Phillips III FAQ
Who is Clark Phillips III?
Clark Dwaine Phillips III is an American professional football cornerback born on December 19, 2001, in Lakewood, California. He plays for the Atlanta Falcons and was selected 113th overall in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was a unanimous All-American at the University of Utah in 2022 and the highest-rated recruit ever to sign with the program.
How old is Clark Phillips III?
He was born on December 19, 2001. As of 2026, he is 24 years old.
What is Clark Phillips III’s net worth?
He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons worth $4,613,528 in May 2023. His estimated net worth is approximately $1 to $2 million. No official figure has been confirmed.
What is Clark Phillips III’s religion?
He is a Christian, raised in a faith-centered household deeply connected to Unity Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation his grandfather founded. His father serves as the church’s pastor.
Who are Clark Phillips III’s parents?
His father is Clark Phillips (Sr./II), a pastor at Unity Missionary Baptist Church in the La Habra area. His mother is Lakeisha Phillips. Both parents are confirmed in the Atlanta Falcons’ official player profile.
Does Clark Phillips III have siblings?
Yes. His younger brother Bryce Phillips is also a cornerback who has played at Santa Ana College and San Diego State University. He also has two sisters whose names are not publicly confirmed.
How tall is Clark Phillips III?
He stands at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighs 185 lb (84 kg). His height is below the NFL cornerback average but has not prevented him from competing effectively at the professional level.
What college did Clark Phillips III attend?
He played college football at the University of Utah from 2020 to 2022, where he started all 31 games of his career and earned unanimous All-American recognition in 2022.
Why did Clark Phillips III choose Utah over Ohio State?
He originally committed to Ohio State before flipping to Utah in December 2019. He later described the decision as the hardest of his life, ultimately choosing Utah for the opportunity and the fit with the program’s culture and coaching staff.
What happened to Clark Phillips III in 2025?
He suffered a triceps injury in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season and was placed on injured reserve on October 18, 2025. He played only one game the entire season. He was cleared to practice in December 2025 and entered the 2026 season fully healthy.
Sources
Atlanta Falcons official profile
https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/clark-phillips-iii/
Pro Football Reference — Clark Phillips III
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PhilCl01.htm
CBS Sports — Clark Phillips III profile
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/3163424/clark-phillips-iii/
EssentiallySports — Clark Phillips III parents
https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-who-are-clark-phillips-iii-parents-all-about-pastor-clark-phillips-and-mom-lakeisha/
NFL Draft Buzz — Clark Phillips III scouting report
https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Clark-PhillipsIII-CB-Utah
NFL.com — Clark Phillips III player profile
https://www.nfl.com/players/clark-phillips-iii/
Atlanta Falcons YouTube — Clark Phillips III Falcons in Focus podcast https://www.atlantafalcons.com/video/clark-phillips-iii-on-roller-skating-family-bond-and-growing-up-in-a-church-his-