Greatest college football player born in each state
Nov 2, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) stands on the sidelines during a timeout against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs 34-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Largely recognized as the No. 1 high school player in the nation out of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Jadeveon Clowney signed with his home state Gamecocks in 2011 and made an immediate impact. Clooney started every game for South Carolina and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and a First-Team Freshman All-American, after setting an SEC freshman record with eight sacks. He also recorded 36 tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss, and forced five fumbles.
Clowney was even more dominant as a sophomore and was named a unanimous All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 13 sacks, which set a single-season school record, 54 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also won the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best defensive end, and finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Heading into his junior season, after which he would be eligible for the NFL Draft, Clowney was considered a virtual lock to be the No. 1 overall pick (which raised the conversation that he should sit out), and many considered him to be the best legitimate chance for a defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997.
Under constant double- and triple-teams, in addition to injuries, Clowney’s production suffered (he recorded only three sacks), but South Carolina won 11 games for the third consecutive season to mark the best stretch in school history.
Other Notable College Football Players Born in South Carolina:
- John Abraham, DL, South Carolina
- Doc Blanchard, RB, Army
- Peter Boulware, LB, Florida State
- Robert Brooks, WR, South Carolina
- Courtney Brown, DL, Penn State
- Troy Brown, WR, Marshall
- Woody Dantzler, QB, Clemson
- A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
- William Perry, DL, Clemson
- Michael Dean Perry, DL, Clemson
- Jake Scott, S, Georgia
- Anthony Simmons, LB, Clemson
- George Webster, LB, Michigan State
Next: South Dakota