Eagles ink former three-time First-team All-Big 12 nod to two-year deal

Sometimes, nice guys finish first, and it’s good to see. Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Le’Raven Clark‘s march through the world of NCAA football got off to a rather impressive start. In the Big 12, a Power Five conference that normally isn’t known for its defensive slugfest, it can be hard to identify the standouts as offensive talent seems to be all over the place. Clark, during his days at the collegiate level, proved to be an exception to that rule.

Following his freshman season in 2012, one where he earned not only a CFN Freshman All-American mention but also a Second-team All-Big 12 nod, Clark closed out the remaining three seasons he spent as a member of the Texas Tech Raiders by notching First-team All-Big 12 honors at the conclusion of his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.

That’s when the NFL came calling. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the third round of 2016’s NFL Draft. He’d go on to play eight games that year, starting three of them before following that up in 2017 when he started five of the 15 games he was available for.

He re-signed with Indy on March 20th of 2020 but tore his Achilles in Week 13 and was placed on the team’s IR (injured reserve). That’s where most of you met him. On May 19th of 2021, he signed with the Birds and was released on August 31st before being re-signed to the practice squad the next day.

There have been ups, and there have been setbacks. Clark has stayed the course though, and as a result, he’s been given an early Christmas present.

Le’Raven Clark signs a two-year deal with the Eagles.

The practice squad, despite being an avenue for every NFL team to continue to develop players who aren’t quite ready to contribute on Sundays, has to feel like football limbo for its members. Guys show up for work on the scout team and participate in team practices, but they don’t dress on Sundays.

For months, Clark has been one of the guys that we knew could contribute if need be in light of the fact that, as mentioned, he has starting experience. The Eagles have called upon him twice, in Week 5 versus the Carolina Panthers and in Week 6 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Clark was added to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement for both contests and played three snaps on special teams in each game.

According to an official report by PhiladelphiaEagles.com’s Chris McPherson, the Eagles agree as they announced on the Wednesday leading up to their bye weekend that Clark has signed a two-year contract through 2022.

That’s good news for the Clark family. Unfortunately, in order for Philadelphia to make that happen someone had to be shaved from the active roster. The team also reports that cornerback Mac McCain has been waived in a subsequent move. Don’t fret though. He’s someone that they like as well. With a practice squad spot ow open, no one should be surprised if McCain is reacquired and winds up there.