Courtesy: SI.com
When I first heard that Jadeveon Clowney was contemplating playing at all during the 2013 college football season, I thought it was the worst thing that the kid could have done. Now that it appears as if he can hold himself out of games if he chooses, Clowney appears to be mailing in what will be his final year at the University of South Carolina and focus on the 2014 NFL Draft.
According to CBSSports.com, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has said that Clowney should be back on the field soon and is questionable for Saturday’s game at the University of Arkansas with a muscle strain.
That’s it… a muscle strain. No specific designation. And Spurrier said they handled the situation the wrong way… uh, of course!
And here’s what Clowney had to say in regards to the speculation that he was done for the season.
“I haven’t played my last game here,” Clowney said. “I will be back on the field. I just don’t know how long it’s going to take me to get back, but I will be back …”
“I am not looking to sit out. I am not that type of guy. I am here for the team regardless, and I am here to work with the team.”
Well, is he that type of guy?
I’m not 100% sure he isn’t.
Consider this: Clowney has been told that he will be either the No. 1 pick or a team in the Top-10 will select him in the NFL Draft. For a guy who was pegged as being the best chance for a defensive Heisman trophy winner, he certainly has played fairly pedestrian.
No. 7 in your program has tallied 12 total tackles in four games played and just two sacks.
This guy is the best player to come out of college football in quite some time?
I beg to differ.
Sure, he has all of the physical attributes to be a stud in the NFL. He has world-class speed for a guy his size and we all know about the hit.
Courtesy: sportsgif.com
But is all the hype around Clowney really just because of this hit?
I like Jadeveon Clowney. I think he will be a good football player in the NFL. But, I see nothing more than Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams as his ceiling. Not a bad football player, just not a great one. Lots of size and speed, but how often do physically gifted guys not pan out in the NFL?
It happens. I think the best thing for Clowney to do is ride it out with his teammates and then enjoy the glories of the NFL when he is showing off in his underwear for scouts at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. I suspect Clowney will play, but we’ll see what kind of character he has if he continues to not separate himself from the pack this season… wouldn’t want anymore film that exposes weaknesses right?
I will give him the benefit of the doubt though. He has a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders to be the best. His jerseys all over Colombia, South Carolina, the highlights of “the hit” being played over and over, and the fact that he is a genuine physical freak of nature is why people are obsessed with this guy. Have to be humble if you expect an NFL team build their franchise around you… hear that Johnny Manziel?
