Clowney highlights class of draft-eligible Gamecocks
Representatives from 30 of the NFL’s 32 teams, 125 credentialed media members and a number of South Carolina football fans gathered at Williams-Brice Stadium Wednesday to watch 10 Gamecocks perform on their home turf for one last time.
South Carolina’s annual Pro Timing Day drew more attention than ever for the 2014 edition, as the sports world continues to speculate about where Jadeveon Clowney will land in May’s NFL Draft.
As Clowney displayed his skills in front of a group that included Bill O’Brien, head coach of the Houston Texans and owner of the No. 1 overall pick, the defensive end said he still had plenty to prove on and off the field.
“I was trying to showcase that I could move lateral and, you know, show my cardio that I’ve been staying in shape, working out,” Clowney said. “And my work ethic. People are always questioning my work ethic, and I think my work ethic’s pretty good.”
Clowney measured at 37.5 inches on the vertical jump and 124 inches on the broad jump Wednesday, and he did 21 repetitions on the bench press at 225 pounds. He did not run the 40 yard dash, instead standing on his NFL Combine time of 4.53 seconds, the fastest of his position group.
As the former South Carolina star prepares for his future in the NFL, he says he has turned his focus to improving his game from a mental perspective.
“Just really learning the game, that’s going to be my next, biggest hard step,” he said. “I think I’ve got all the tools talent-wise and athleticism, but just learning the game. The game is another step up, a lot of smart guys with the same talent as you’ve got can outsmart you because they’ve been around it for a while.”
While a vast majority of the scouts and media members were on hand to see Clowney’s workout, the biggest cheers from the stands came when the winningest quarterback in South Carolina history got ready to compete.
Connor Shaw is not a lock to be drafted like his former teammate, but he has several private workouts scheduled with NFL teams, the names of which he would not say.
Throughout this process of readying for the draft, Shaw said the most beneficial opportunities he’s had have been sit-downs with scouts and coaches from the next level.
“I’m just getting great advice from scouts, coaches, GMs, having the opportunity to sit face-to-face, one-on-one with coaching staffs,” Shaw said. “Something that, as a kid, you kind of dream of, and then the next step is playing on Sundays.”
After participating in throwing drills Wednesday, Shaw said he was pleased with how he performed, because only two balls hit the ground.
The other eight former Gamecocks that participated in the workouts were Bruce Ellington, Victor Hampton, Jimmy Legree, Ronald Patrick, Kelcy Quarles,DeAngelo Smith, Chaz Sutton and David Wilkins.
In the plethora of mock drafts available online, Clowney is the only former South Carolina player projected to go in the first round. Quarles, Ellington and Hampton will most likely be the ones vying for the title of next Gamecock drafted come May.
After Clowney held court for the media post-workout, he then stepped aside for a solo interview with the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock.
The prospective top-overall pick went over his goals for the future with Mayock, and after what was, by most accounts, a successful Pro Day for Clowney, Mayock had some high praise for the former Gamecock.
“Here’s the deal: 6-5 and a 1/2, 266, 34-inch arms, all the measurables in the world, but forget them,” Mayock said. “Bottom line, he’s got more talent than any defensive lineman in the planet.”