Jadeveon Clowney
Defensive end for the Houston Texans, first overall pick in 2014, and three-time Pro Bowler.
via Wikipedia: Jadeveon Clowney · see source
Jadeveon Davarus Clowney (born February 14, 1993) is an American professional football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, winning the Ted Hendricks Award and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, along with earning consecutive first-team All-American honors between 2012 and 2013. Clowney was selected first overall in the 2014 NFL draft by the Texans, where he spent his first five seasons. During his final three seasons with the Texans, Clowney received three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and one second-team All-Pro selection. Following his departure from Houston, he played with the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys. He returned to the Texans in 2026.
Quick Facts
- Current team
- Houston Texans
- Position
- Defensive end
- Born
- 14 February 1993
- Birthplace
- Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
- High school
- South Pointe (Rock Hill)
- College
- South Carolina (2011–2013)
- Draft year
- 2014
- Draft round
- 1
Lore & Background
Clowney was born February 14, 1993, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He attended South Pointe High School, where he played for the Stallions high school football team. Already 6’3” and 200 lbs as a freshman in 2007, he played running back and defensive end for the school's junior varsity team. In his sophomore year he joined rising seniors Stephon Gilmore and DeVonte Holloman on a South Pointe varsity coming off a 9–4 season. By spring practice, Clowney became a permanent fixture at defensive end. South Pointe went 15–0 for the season, including a 35–14 win over town-rival Northwestern High at Memorial Stadium for the 2008 South Carolina AAAAAA Division 1 title and a No. 3 spot in the overall annual MaxPreps high school ranking. Despite playing nearly the entire season with a bone spur in his foot, Clowney finished with 17 sacks. He opted to have surgery on the foot in January 2009. South Pointe had 31 seniors graduate after the 2008 season, including Gilmore and Holloman. Still, Clowney helped the team to a 10–4 record for the season, and a state semifinal berth, where the Stallions lost to Northwestern. Clowney finished the season with 144 tackles and 23 sacks. In his senior season Clowney tallied 162 tackles, 29.5 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries, and scored five touchdowns on defense while helping lead his team to a 13–2 record. South Pointe made the state finals for the second time in three years, but lost 23–27 to Myrtle Beach at USC's Williams-Brice Stadium. Still, Clowney was named South Carolina's 2010 Mr. Football. South Pointe was 38–6 during his three varsity seasons. Immediately following his senior season Clowney went to Spartanburg for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, where he registered 5 tackles (2 solo, 3 assists), 3 sacks for a loss of 15 yards, 2 tackles for a loss of 17 yards, and 2 quarterback hurries. Clowney was lined up against the North Carolina left tackle on every snap he played and drew five holding calls. After the Shrine Bowl, Clowney headed to Orlando, Florida, for a week of Under Armour All-America Game practices and then the all-star game itself. He was the leading tackler for the Red with seven and had 1.5 sacks. Recruiting analysts were particularly interested in his matchup with Cyrus Kouandjio.
Reader's Guide
During and throughout the entirety of his middle school and high school career, Clowney was often regarded as the best player in his class. ESPN described him as 'a special talent who could have vied for the top spot in several previous classes'. Both major recruiting services, Rivals.com and Scout.com, as well as ESPNU, considered Clowney not only a five-star recruit, but also they all voted him unanimously as the consensus No. 1 overall prospect of the 2011 class, basically throughout the entirety of his senior year. Unsurprisingly, he received scholarship offers from nearly every perennial BCS powerhouse. However, Clowney left his decision open until after National Signing Day of 2011. In a live broadcast on ESPN on his eighteenth birthday—February 14, 2011—Clowney announced his commitment to South Carolina, selecting the Gamecocks over Clemson, Alabama, Louisiana State, and Florida State. He was the third-straight South Carolina 'Mr. Football' to sign with the Gamecocks, following in the footsteps of his South Pointe teammate Gilmore, and Duncan Byrnes' Marcus Lattimore. 'I wanted to play in the SEC. It was easy,' Clowney said. 'I knew a week ago. I just tried not to tell anybody.' Just days earlier, a story in the New York Times questioned Clowney's academic eligibility, but Clowney told reporters he 'had no concerns and would be fine'. Clowney was also on the school's track & field team, where he competed as a sprinter, shot putter and discus thrower. He took ninth in the 100 meters at the 2011 York County Championships, with a career-best time of 11.43 seconds. He recorded a personal-best throw of 14.82 meters in the shot put at the 2011 State Championships, and also ran the fourth leg on the 4 × 100 meter relay squad, helping them earn a third-place finish at 42.86 seconds. Clowney attended the University of South Carolina where he played on the Gamecocks football team under head coach Steve Spurrier from 2011 through 2013. As a true freshman at South Carolina Clowney played and started in all 12 games of the season. He started the season opener against East Carolina, becoming the first freshman to start on the defensive line since Travian Robertson in 2007. In his debut, Clowney had seven tackles, which one of them was on the opening snap of the game, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
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