Clowney does it all as nation's No. 1 defensive end
South Pointe superstar scored 37 touchdowns as a freshman, still an offensive threat as well.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
By: Dave Krider | MaxPreps.com
As a 6-foot-3, 205-pound tailback, Jadeveon Clowney scored 37 touchdowns for the freshman football team at South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.). Though he also doubled at defensive end, Clowney loved carrying the pigskin.
Photo by Tom Lemming
South Pointe High's Jadeveon Clowney.
Today, as a senior, he is the No. 1 defensive end and No. 2 overall player in the nation, according to Tom Lemming of CBS and MaxPreps. There are very few carries on his resume, so what happened?
"I grew up," replied Clowney, 6-foot-6, 251 pounds. "I wanted to be a running back, but they said I got too tall. I was upset with my coaches changing my position. I was mad, but I played anyway."
Clowney says of his high ranking, "It's pretty good knowing that I've been chosen from a lot of good players. It's not that much pressure. The coach tells me not to pay any attention."
South Pointe coach Bobby Carroll definitely did not make a mistake, because Clowney has greatly disrupted opposing offenses for the past three years and is one of the most highly-sought players in the nation. His final five college choices are Miami, Florida State, Alabama, South Carolina and LSU.
As a junior, Clowney led South Pointe with 144 tackles and 23 sacks. This year he leads the once-beaten Stallions with 76 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
"In my 28 years of coaching, he stands alone," Carroll said. "He's an absolutely phenomenal player. I knew he'd be a defensive player. I'm a defensive coach. He's an unbelievable pass rusher. He has a 36-inch vertical jump. He has 4.5 speed (for 40 yards). It's amazing, he's so dang fast. Coach Saban (Alabama's Nick Saban) talks about his motor that runs all the time.
Coach Tressel (Ohio State's Jim Tressel) texted me and said he is one of the most humble kids he'd seen in a long time."