TCU safety Mark Perry is an experienced and productive defender in the 2024 NFL Draft class. A multi-year contributor for the Horned Frogs, Perry recorded a second-best 84 tackles during the 2022 season en route to helping TCU advance to a historic National Championship appearance. This past season, Perry totaled 58 tackles, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Perry recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his takeaways from the East-West Shrine Bowl, being snubbed from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, transferring from Colorado to TCU, and more.
JM: What do you think you proved to general managers and scouts while attending this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl?
Mark Perry: I think I went out there and put my best foot forward. I didn’t wanna make it more than what it was. It’s football at the end of the day. I was just trying to be myself and showcase who I am not only as a player but off the field as well.
I wanted to build as many relationships as I could with my teammates throughout that short week. Obviously, we’re used to playing with our own teammates. I really tried to get to know the other players in attendance. I wanted to build some camaraderie and showcase my leadership skills on the field and even around the hotel.
I think I made a great impression on some pretty important people. It was a great week for me.
JM: You measured in at a rocked-up 6-feet, 211 pounds. You look the part. How do you use size and strength to your advantage on a play-by-play basis?
Mark Perry: These days, everybody is pretty big and strong. Obviously, speed kills at the next level. You can’t teach speed. Like you said, I weighed in at 6-foot, 211 pounds.
I’m not going to the NFL Scouting Combine, but I’m going to run a good time at my Pro Day. I think some people are going to be surprised by what I run. Those that really know me won’t be surprised because I know what I can do.
I use a little bit of everything on the field. I use speed to my advantage. When receivers and tight ends see me, they think I’m big, stiff, and slow. I surprise them once they go deep and I’m running stride for stride with them. I use strength to my advantage.
JM: You were snubbed from receiving an invite to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine as you mentioned. How do you plan on responding to that adversity?
Mark Perry: I’m going to attack what’s in front of me. I can’t control whether I receive an invite to the combine or not. They made their decision. The only thing I can do is respond by attacking what’s in front of me. Right now, the focus is on my Pro Day in late March. I’m going to try to put on a show. I’m going to put up the same numbers I would have put up at the combine. I’ll leave the rest to them to compare and contrast. I’ll just put my best foot forward by controlling what I can control.
I had to sit down and realize that everybody’s journey is different. This is another step in my journey.
JM: I believe you met with most teams at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Did any of those team meetings particularly stand out? Did you feel some teams showed more interest in you than others?
Mark Perry: I met with 26 teams in total. The teams that stood out… definitely the New Orleans Saints. I met with them twice. The Raiders, Texans, and Colts also stood out to me to name a few. Those conversations either stuck out, or maybe I was speaking with multiple scouts from those teams throughout the week. Those four teams stood out a little bit more than others.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. You had two great seasons at TCU. In 2022, you totaled 84 tackles and helped the team advance to a National Championship. You showcased better ball skills this past season. What will forever be your biggest takeaways?
Mark Perry: My biggest takeaway from my time at TCU is that you have to work for everything you want. Especially that 2022 season, we took on that underdog mentality. Coming into that season, nobody really expected us to be anything. Obviously, by the end of that season, we reached the National Championship.
It wasn’t easy. We had to scratch and crawl for everything we wanted. We just took on that mentality. It started at the top. Ever since then, I’ve taken on that underdog approach. Hungry dogs run faster.
That’s always been my motto and approach. I’ve never been a 5-star recruit with a bunch of attention. I do the dirty work in the dark. That’s the player I’ve been. Going to TCU brought that out of me even more because the entire team had the same approach.
That’s definitely my takeaway from my two seasons at TCU.
JM: Now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Colorado to TCU?
Mark Perry: I think it was a great decision. We weren’t winning many games at Colorado when I was there. Once I got to TCU, I played in some big-time games during that 2022 season. We made the College Football Playoff. I had never been in that position before.
Getting exposed to that was amazing for my development. I was around a winning culture. The players, the people in the building, I don’t take any of them for granted. It was definitely one of the best decisions of my life and for my career.
JM: I love that answer. I’ve appreciated your time today. What kind of person and player is a team getting when they draft Mark Perry?
Mark Perry: They’re getting a selfless teammate. I’m going to roll my sleeves up and do whatever I need to do for the team to win. They’re getting a guy that’s accountable. I’ve never had an off-field issue.
I’m always focused on doing what I have to do. I take a lot of pride in my work. I’m focused on getting better every single day. I never worry about the outside noise. I’m not worried about instant gratification. None of that matters to me.
I’m focused on getting into the building and being a sponge. I want to soak up all the knowledge I can from the coaching staff and from the veterans around me. I’m going to try to be the best player I can be.
They’re definitely getting that from me. I’m the ultimate competitor on the field. I want to make plays. They’re getting a guy that puts the team first.
