Steve Spurrier: Jadeveon Clowney Could Have Gone Straight To NFL From High School
By Josh Sanchez
South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is the best NFL prospect in college football. Unfortunately for lovers of the game and Clowney himself, the sophomore is unable to take his talent to the NFL because of the three-year rule. It is robbing the league of an incredible talent and it puts Clowney in risk of injury for one more unpaid year.
There is no doubt that Clowney has what it takes to become a star at the next level. In fact, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier went as far as to say Clowney could have competed in the NFL immediately out of high school.
“He could’ve come out of high school, probably, and gone straight to the NFL and played,” Spurrier said on the Dan Patrick Show, per College Football Talk. “He’s just one of those rare guys who has tremendous strength and quickness and explosiveness. And he likes playing. He’s a good guy, he’s really a good teammate also.
“He’s looking forward to next year. He knew it was a three-year deal. But he’s ready. Oh, yeah, he’s ready for the NFL.”
It’s unfortunate that the league does not allow young adults to make a living with their natural talents once they are old enough, but there it is also clear that some of the 18-year-olds would not be safe if they made the jump from high school to the NFL. For others, like Jadeveon Clowney, they could certainly make the jump.
Just watch this highlight from Clowney’s senior year of high school:
It is exactly the kind of dominance you would expect from a player of his caliber at the high school level. It’s the same dominance that Clowney has continued to play with in college and the same dominance I will expect from him in the NFL.
Personally, I can’t wait until the 2014 NFL Draft to see what team wins the Clowney sweepstakes.