Mel Kiper Jr. is in full-on evaluation mode, and has put Damone Clark through the paces as the NFL Draft cycle ramps up.

The LSU linebacker, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds from Baton Rouge, has received high praise from Kiper, the ESPN draft analyst, and Clark is believed to be one of the top inside linebackers in the 2022 NFL Draft class. Clark led LSU with 137 tackles this past season as the next closest teammate in tackles with Micah Baskerville with 83. Clark also made 15.5 tackles for a loss, an interception and 3 pass breakups.

Kiper offered his thoughts during an episode of the First Draft Podcast on Monday.

“Patrick Queen came into the program a few years ago and he’s with the Baltimore Ravens,” Kiper said, via 247Sports. “Damone Clark had 136 tackles, he was getting sacks, good in coverage. He had tremendous coverage going from Point A to Point B in a blink. I’ve thought about late one for him. … Damone Clark was really flying around. He could run for the clock really well. He should test out well athletically. When you put that work in conjunction with 15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, a couple forced fumbles, an interception … don’t be shocked if he’s not in the late-first-round range.”