Palmetto Proving Grounds

1. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina Gamecocks
Sophomore defensive end

You simply cannot coach Clowney's combination of size, first-step quickness and natural athleticism. Studying coach-copy tape of Clowney and comparing him to other top defensive linemen gave us a true appreciation for his first-step quickness and hand quickness. There are times when it seems like he gets home in five steps with those long strides.

His production ranked among the nation's best in 2012 (in 11 games, he had 21.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks), but even those gaudy stats can't fully capture what we saw of him on tape in the Georgia game. He was a one-man wrecking crew against the Bulldogs. He played with a foot injury versus Tennessee and Arkansas, which limited him somewhat, and he sat out versus Wofford. He returned with his explosive first step intact in the season finale against Clemson, and he tore that offense apart with 4.5 sacks.

He has some areas in which he needs to improve. His lower-body strength, to anchor, needs to get better, and his leverage is inconsistent (LSU handled him at times when they isolated him and ran in his direction). He also still relies too heavily on his swim moves. He has long, explosively quick hands that will allow him to master an array of pass-rush moves, and he does an outstanding job of transferring quickness to power as a pass-rusher.

He's a notch below where Julius Peppers was when he was coming out of UNC in terms of athleticism for his frame, but he's in the same ballpark.

the notch below peppers in terms of athleticism for his frame is BS imo.

Peppers was an All American in football AND played basketball for UNC - I'd say that borders on the ridiculous!

Peppers chased down Vick from behind

He is only 19. He turns 20 on February 14 th

Don't be ridiculous; if Vick is running full speed there's no lineman in football who could chase him down.

cliff mathews chased down that NC state qb who is now with seattle, cant remember his name, but if they raced it wouldnt be close. But either way its impressive.

Clowney is the most physically gifted DE maybe ever, he has a good head on his shoulders as far as character and not being big into drinking/partying but I think what makes a player elite is mixing their superior athleticism with great thinking. If you are a quick thinker and can process information fast then the sky is the limit for you. If he puts 100% effort into reading defenses, learning new moves, and knowing when to do what he will be God's gift to football, and could go down as the best to ever play the position.

I heard JD was so big when he was born he was born on February 14th AND 15th!!!