Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark is not yet in his prime. He is turning 28 during the season in October and has plenty of great years ahead of him. However, he has quickly turned into an elder statesman on the roster.
That point was hammered home by 2023 fourth-round pick Colby Wooden. Wooden will now be playing alongside Clark in the Packers’ lineup after playing with him when he’d use the Packers in the Madden NFL video game.
“With Kenny, I ain’t gonna lie, I used to play with the Packers’ defense in ‘Madden,'” Wooden said. “So, I knew he was good. I used to watch his film, his hand placement, his pad level, all that sort of stuff.”
Clark is now the longest-tenured Packers defender by two seasons according to Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. When he entered the league he had multiple veterans to learn from in Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion and Ricky Jean-Francios.
With Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed moving on in free agency, Clark is now who the younger defenders will be relying on as a veteran mentor. It is a role that he is ready for, accepting the challenge and attacking things head-on.
“It’s crazy just seeing all those guys learning,” Clark said. “They’re asking me questions about formations and what they see. I always remind them it’s always about the details. It’s the little stuff that separates people. It’s refreshing for me to get questions from those guys because it puts me back in that mode about all the details.”
While the defensive line may be lacking experience, there is a lot of young talent in this group. Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton are set for larger roles this season while Wooden and Karl Brooks are joining the ranks as draft picks.
Brooks is someone that the Packers and analysts are high on, as he was recently named the best move of the offseason for Green Bay. He is one player that Clark will be taking under his wings in 2023, as he is drawing praise from the coaching staff as well for the work he is doing with the youngsters.
“Kenny is one of the greatest leaders,” said defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, who’s worked with Clark since his arrival as a first-round pick out of UCLA. “He’s actually being a lot more vocal right now, especially in our room. The communication he’s having with the guys. He’s pulling guys to the side as I’m coaching other guys up. He’s earned that respect. He has the room.”
Clark has earned that respect as a two-time Pro Bowler and stalwart along the defensive line. In seven seasons, he has totaled 26.5 sacks and 38 tackles for loss, showcasing his versatility and skill set on a yearly basis.