Jadeveon Clowney - DE - South Carolina
Combine numbers:
- Height/Weight: 6-5/266 LBS
- 40 yard dash: 4.53
- Bench Press reps: 21
- Vertical Jump: 37.5
- Broad Jump: 124 inches
- 3 Cone Drill: 7.27 seconds
- Arm Length: 34.5 inches
- Hand Size: 10 inches
2013-2014 Jadeveon Clowney Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjzL_LB-eEs
Player Overview
- High School: Consensus #1 player in the country
- High School: USA Today's National Defensive Player of the Year
- High School: Mr. Football in South Carolina
- Recruited by Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Florida State, among many other top programs.
- Named SEC Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches.
- First Team All SEC: Twice!
- First Team All American 2012
- 6th place in Heisman Trophy voting in 2012
- First sophomore to win the Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end
- Set school single season record in sacks (13) and tackles for loss (23.5)
Strengths
- Unbelievable combination of size and speed
- Has long arms and uses his hands well
- Disrupts quarterback's vision, knocks some balls down
- Plays all four downs
- Good versus the run and pass
- Highly Disruptive
- Is a Pleaser, likes to please his coaches
- Can play both 4-3 DE, and 3-4 OLB
- Knows how to run twists and stunts
- Great swim move
- Hustles well in pursuit
- Gets off blocks quickly
Weaknesses
- Could struggle with all the hype and pressure
- Lack of discipline on and off field
- Disappears at times
- Some questions about his work ethic
My Analysis
The Houston Texans should draft Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Texans will be a perfect fit for Clowney. As I stated earlier in his strengths section he likes to please his coaches. Clowney will work very well with new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, because Crennel is known as a player's coach. I firmly believe that Crennel will be able to tap that unlimited potential that Jadeveon Clowney has and turn the Texan defense around very quickly. Jadeveon will make all the other players around him on the Texans better, especially the defensive backs.
Another positive for Clowney to be drafted by the Texans is that he will be able to work with J. J. Watt everyday. Clowney lacks discipline and is a follower. What better player in the NFL is there for Clowney to follow than Watt? Watt is known for his hard work and dedication to his craft.
The real question for the Texans should be where to play Clowney? Jadeveon could play the 5 tech defensive end position or he could play the outside linebacker position. The Texans would have a great defensive line pairing Clowney with Earl Mitchell and Watt if the Texans are able to sign Mitchell, which I strongly suggest they do. But, if the Texans put Clowney at defensive end they still have a glaring need for a pass rushing outside linebacker.
If I was Crennel, I would put Clowney at outside linebacker and find someone to play the defensive end position. It would be new for Clowney, because he was mostly a defensive end at South Carolina playing with his hand down. But, I would stand him up to take better advantage of his speed. If you line him up at end, he will have to battle those big strong tackles every down.