Suffolk native Chuck Clark is being groomed to be a starter for the Baltimore Ravens in future seasons.

Camp time has arrived, and that means the NFL season is officially under way. Former King’s Fork High School standout Clark will be heading into his second season. Last year, he was a sixth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens, and Clark found a way to make an impact as a rookie.

During his rookie season last year, Clark played 15 of 16 regular season games, tallied 13 tackles and broke up two passes.

During camp last year, the team felt Clark could be something special during his time with the Ravens. His secondary coach, Chris Hewitt, is excited about the future Clark has with the team.

“The thing about it is with our young guys, I see those guys as future starters or as starters right now,” Hewitt said in a press conference with Ravens media. “I have no problem if anyone of our starters, being ‘T.J.’ [Tony Jefferson] and Eric [Weddle], that Chuck could step right in there and continue to keep on doing that job.”

Coaches have also spoken to how well Clark has grasped the defense and been able to get people lined up.

“Chuck is extremely smart. He can line everybody up, he can manage the defense, and on top of that, he’s a great athlete. So, he has every attribute to become a great player in this league as well, and to me, he’s a third starter,” Hewitt added.

Hewitt’s comments about Clark echo what the team thought about him when they drafted him.

“He is a very instinctive player,” said Ravens Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz in 2017. “He’s aggressive as a blitzer, he is physical, and he is a good tackler. Just watching him, he always seems to be around the ball and in the right position.”

The Ravens already have their two starters, Jefferson and Weddle, but the organization has made it clear he likely will be a starter eventually.

“The Ravens don’t need Clark to take over as a starter yet, but they want him to be ready for the future,” according to the Ravens media website.

The confidence in Clark could warrant the Ravens to move on from one of the starters down the line. In the meantime, Clark will have no problem putting pressure on the coaches to play him more day in and day out.

The former Bulldog will likely see a lot of playing time during preseason games.

At King’s Fork, Clark was the Southeastern District Defensive Player of the Year and numerous All-District selections.