JADEVEON CLOWNEY (2012)
Jadeveon Clowney earned a sixth-place finish in the 2012 Heisman voting, which is the best finish since George Rogers took home the hardware in 1980. Possibly the highest rated recruit to come out of the high school ranks, Clowney had a stellar freshman season that ended in All-Conference honors, but it was his super sophomore campaign that cemented him as one of the top defensive linemen in program history.
Clowney was well-known around the nation entering the 2012 season, but his stardom would erupt as the year drew on. He totaled 54 tackles over the 13-game season, including a school-record 23.5 tackles for loss. That was 15 more than the next closest player on the roster. He also sacked opposing quarterbacks 13 times, another school record, and recorded the most dominant defensive line performance in program history when he sacked Clemson signal caller Tahj Boyd five times (still rumored to be the most sacks by a single player in a game in the history of Death Valley).
Of course, his season wasn’t finished. There was still the Outback Bowl, and somehow, he’d top the rivalry performance with one of the most incredible college football plays of the millennium.
Following a debatable fourth-down spot, Michigan lined its offense up in the I-formation for a first-and-10 call. Quarterback Devin Gardner snapped the ball and turned to hand it off to running back Vincent Smith. Clowney stormed through the Wolverine front line untouched, and nearly decapitated the reserve tailback.
Smith lost his helmet and the football, which Clowney then scooped up with one hand. “The Hit” will forever be linked to Clowney’s Gamecock career, and capped his incredible sophomore season at its pinnacle.
Clowney received four first-place votes, but would ultimately lose out to Johnny Manziel for Heisman honors. He would, however, earn the Ted Hendricks award as the nation’s top defensive end. He’d go on to be the top pick in the NFL Draft two years later.