Jadeveon Clowney

American college football defensive end who dominated at South Carolina, winning multiple national awards before becoming the 2014 NFL Draft's first overall pic

Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina on February 14, 1993, Jadeveon Clowney emerged from humble beginnings to become one of the most dominant defensive forces in college football history. Raised primarily by his mother, Josenna Clowney, he attended South Pointe High School where his exceptional athletic ability first garnered national attention. Standing 6'5" and possessing rare speed for his size, Clowney dominated high school competition and was ranked as the top overall recruit in the nation for the Class of 2011. Clowney's three-year career at the University of South Carolina from 2011-2013 established him as the most physically imposing defensive player in college football. Playing defensive end for the Gamecocks, he recorded 24 career sacks and 153 total tackles while terrorizing opposing offenses in the competitive SEC. His sophomore season in 2012 proved particularly dominant, earning him consensus All-American honors and the first of two consecutive SEC Defensive Player of the Year awards. He repeated both achievements in 2013, capping his college career by winning the Lombardi Award as the nation's outstanding lineman or linebacker. The defining moment of Clowney's college career occurred in the 2013 Outback Bowl against Michigan. His explosive hit on running back Vincent Smith, which simultaneously stripped the ball and the player's helmet, resulted in a fumble recovery for a touchdown and became the most viral highlight in college football bowl history. The play perfectly encapsulated his rare combination of power, speed, and timing that made him virtually unblockable. Clowney's South Carolina legacy transcends statistics, as he fundamentally changed how opposing teams approached game planning in the SEC. His ability to single-handedly disrupt offensive schemes made him the consensus number one overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, selected by the Houston Texans. Though his professional career has been hampered by injuries, his three seasons of defensive dominance established him as the most purely physical college defensive player of his generation and cemented South Carolina's brief emergence as an elite program.

Explosive pass rusher with exceptional speed and power, disruptive defensive end

One of the most dominant college football pass rushers ever, transforming South Carolina's defense

• Consensus All-American 2x
• SEC Defensive Player of Year 2x
• Lombardi Award
• First overall pick 2014