Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jadeveon Clowney is entering the 2013 season with the greatest amount of hype and expected success of any player in college football. Regarded by most as the best player in the country, the South Carolina junior is already projected to be the can’t-miss No.1 prospect for next year’s NFL draft.
Clowney is no stranger to high expectations. He was the unanimous No.1 prospect of the 2011 high school class by recruiting websites and has played All-American caliber football since enrolling at South Carolina.
There is little doubt that, if healthy, Clowney will dominate for the Gamecocks this season. However, the question remains as to whether the expectations are far too great for anyone to achieve.
Even if Clowney has a great season, can he realistically exceed the hype of being the best potential pro football player despite being too young for eligibility? Can he shake the legend built from his outstanding forced fumble recovery during the Outback Bowl?
If there was ever a person to exceed such high expectations, it would be Clowney. He has the rare combination of size and speed from the defensive end position that may have never been matched previously.
South Carolina does have talent around Clowney and has continued to develop into a respectable team in the SEC over the past decade. Steve Spurrier is a legend for a good reason, and his staff will continue to develop the natural talent of their star pass rusher into an NFL-ready superstar.
Jadeveon Clowney, if healthy, will not only match expectations from his previous two seasons, but also exceed them en route to a stellar pro career.
