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Jadeveon Clowney encouraged with rehab, trying to shed bust label

By Patrick Schmidt

Last time it was Jadeveon Clowney who was first to the podium. Who will it be in 2015?
Last time it was Jadeveon Clowney who was first to the podium. Who will it be in 2015? /
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Jadeveon Clowney is progressing in his rehab and working to shed the bust label after a disappointing rookie season with the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans were supposed to have the best defensive line in the NFL last year after drafting South Carolina All-American defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney No. 1 overall to pair him opposite former Defensive Player of the Year, J.J. Watt, but that never materialized.

Clowney injured his knee in his regular season debut as a result of the shoddy turf at NRG Stadium and was limited to four games after requiring microfracture surgery.

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He looked like the second coming of Bruce Smith in his first two seasons at South Carolina where he set a SEC freshman record with eight sacks in 2011 and earned All-American honors in 2012 after recording 13.5 sacks, won the Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end and finished sixth in the Heisman vote.

An injury-plagued junior season at South Carolina and questions about his work ethic and desire to be great followed him into the NFL draft after only three sacks in his final season with the Gamecocks and it wasn’t long until the “bust” word was attached to Clowney.

After seven combined tackles, zero sacks and a serious knee injury in his rookie season, the bust label is something Clowney is trying to shed as he attacks his rehab with the same ferocity we saw his sophomore season at South Carolina.

“Rehab is tough, tougher than playing. You have to get there earlier than everybody and leave later than everybody,” he told the Houston Chronicle.

That was what had some NFL teams skeptical about Clowney’s fate in the league. Would he put in the work necessary to be great and not rest on his God-given talent? It was a valid concern and still is, but maybe the knee surgery he had and the rehab that follows is serving as a wake-up call for the talented pass rusher.

It is too soon to label Clowney a bust after one season cut short to injury and his size, speed, strength and agility gives him a head start on others, so when you combine that with an insatiable appetite for greatness, and you have someone like J.J. Watt.

This has to be an opportunity where Clowney has his aha moment and recognizes he wasn’t doing the little things that have a big impact on Sunday’s. Rehab seems to flipped a switch inside him and while he won’t put a timetable on his return to the practice field, he remains optimistic with the progress he’s made.

“I’m not going to speak on that, but I’m making progress, and I’m very encouraged,” Clowney told the Houston Chronicle. “I’m working hard, but we’re not going to rush it.”

Working hard is something Clowney hasn’t had to do much in his football career because he was bigger, stronger and faster than everyone that he didn’t have to be the first one to show up and the last to leave.

He’s doing that now and 15 years from now we could be looking back as his injury as a blessing in disguise and giving him the kick in the pants he needed to live up to his limitless potential.

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