“He’s a freak, unstoppable, just ridiculous, BCS-ready now, and future Super Bowl MVP.” Those are just a few of the phrases and words that ESPN The Magazine used to describe superstar high school football recruit Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney is the unanimous No. 1 recruit in the nation, standing 6-foot-6, weighing in at 247 pounds and running a blistering 4.6 40 time. What makes Clowney such a special defensive end is the way he explodes off the line and is able to get around offensive lineman with his quick foot work.
Clowney has extremely long arms and is able to tip a lot of passes in the air. He has the speed to catch the ball carrier from behind and the strength to bring down anybody on the field. He finished his senior season tallying up 19.5 sacks, 128 tackles, 10 forced fumbles and an interception while leading his South Carolina high school team to an 11-1 record.
While he is keeping his options wide open, Clowney has made it clear that his two favorite programs are Alabama and South Carolina. National Signing Day is in two days with Alabama and South Carolina still vying neck and neck for his signature.
The 2010 USA Today Defensive Player of the Year said he may wait it out until his birthday (February 14th) to sign his letter of intent. Facebook groups “Clowney, come down to Alabama” and “South Carolina wants Jadeveon Clowney” are just a few that have been created to try and lure this highly-touted defensive end.
Clowney’s Facebook wall is flooded with messages from fans all over the country trying to persuade him as to why he should go play for their football team.
Some scouts say the Gamecocks have the edge because he lives a few towns over and is most comfortable close to home. Others think the Crimson Tide have an advantage because of the rich tradition and loaded talent of players that would surround him at Alabama. Clowney has said publicly that he wants to win a national championship and eventually play in the NFL.
The memories are still fresh in everyone’s mind when South Carolina played the game of their lives last season, upsetting No. 1 Alabama in Columbia. Steve Spurrier called it the biggest win in the history of the program. However, Saban has proved that he can consistently win year in and year out at Alabama and is regarded as one of the best defensive minds in all of college football.
Saban has also transitioned more defensive players from college football to the NFL than any other head coach in the last few years. Clowney has said, “My goal is to play in the NFL. That’s all I ever want.” If Clowney is looking for the quickest route to the NFL and a legitimate shot at a national championship, he will be sporting a crimson-colored hat when he signs.
