South Carolina Football: Top-15 Gamecock NFL Draft successes of all-time
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 9 NFL Draft Success:
DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney
One of two top-overall picks from the University of South Carolina, Jadeveon Clowney (Round 1, Pick 1, 2014 NFL Draft; Houston Texans) was college football’s best player at times during his 2011-2013 college career. Since being drafted into the NFL, Clowney has had a very productive (but limited by injury) career as an EDGE player with his best years as a hybrid defensive end and outside linebacker with the Texans.
He was an All-Pro and a multi-time Pro Bowler but could never live up to the full measure of the hype of his #1-overall recruit ranking and #1-overall draft pick selection due to fighting through injuries for most of his career. His career has been a successful one but still less than what was hoped because of this. Clowney is currently a free agent waiting for his next NFL contract during the 2023 offseason.