South Carolina Football: Gamecock legend signs new NFL deal
By Kevin Miller
Several South Carolina football alums have signed new NFL contracts this offseason. Players like Keisean Nixon (re-signed with Packers) and Hayden Hurst (Panthers) had big 2022 seasons and got nice paydays as a result. Other Gamecocks like Deebo Samuel, Stephon Gilmore, and Ernest Jones are still on older deals but could be in line for a big extension after playing well in 2023.
According to CBS’ Josina Anderson, South Carolina football legend Jadeveon Clowney, who has been a free agent for much of this offseason, has found a new NFL team at long last. Clowney, entering his 10th season in the National Football League, will play the 2023 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal.
Clowney will battle with Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo for snaps off the EDGE in Baltimore. The Ravens have a history of successful pass rushers, and if Clowney is fully healthy, he could have success for the franchise that saw players like Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, and Peter Boulware wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
In his NFL career, Clowney has made an All-Pro squad and three-straight Pro Bowls, but injuries have kept him from living up to the enormous hype and expectations that surrounded him after his South Carolina football career.
Even so, in his nine injury-plagued years with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns, the defensive end/outside linebacker combo has tallied 43 sacks and 90 tackles for loss.
While with the Gamecocks, Clowney set numerous single-season records for USC, including sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. Despite playing just three seasons in Columbia (2011-2013), he ranks in the top-3 in those same statistics for his career. Clowney is among the best-ever in garnet and black in career sacks (3rd), tackles for loss (2nd), and forced fumbles (1st).
The former #1 overall NFL Draft pick and #1 overall high school recruit will look to get into form quickly for the Ravens. Baltimore has just two more preseason games before their season begins on September 10th against the team that drafted Clowney in 2014, the Houston Texans.