Jadeveon Clowney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney in August 2021
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1993-02-14) February 14, 1993 (age 32) Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	266 lb (121 kg)
Career information
High school:	South Pointe (Rock Hill, South Carolina)
College:	South Carolina (2011–2013)
NFL Draft:	2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
Houston Texans (2014) Seattle Seahawks (2019) Tennessee Titans (2020) Cleveland Browns (2021–2022) Baltimore Ravens (2023) Carolina Panthers (2024)
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pro (2016) 3× Pro Bowl (2016–2018) Ted Hendricks Award (2012) SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2012) 2× First-team All-American (2012, 2013) 2× First-team All-SEC (2012, 2013) Second-team All-SEC (2011) SEC Freshman of the Year (2011) South Carolina Gamecocks No. 7 retired
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Total tackles: 409 Sacks: 58.0 Forced fumbles: 15 Fumble recoveries: 9 Interceptions: 1 Pass deflections: 32 Defensive touchdowns: 4
Player stats at PFR

Jadeveon Davarus Clowney (pronounced jə-DEV-ee-on; born February 14, 1993) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker, which is a defensive position. He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. There, he won the Ted Hendricks Award for being the best defensive end in the country. In 2014, the Houston Texans chose him as the very first player in the 2014 NFL draft. Clowney played for the Texans for five seasons. During his last few years with the team, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times in a row. After leaving Houston, he played for the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and the Carolina Panthers.

Early Life and High School Football

Clowney tries to tackle a quarterback during a high school game in 2010.

Jadeveon Clowney was born on February 14, 1993, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He went to South Pointe High School. He played for the school's Stallions high school football team.

When he was just a freshman in 2007, Clowney was already very tall and strong. He played both running back (an offensive player who runs with the ball) and defensive end (a defensive player who tries to tackle the quarterback). His coach, Bobby Carroll, knew he was special. Clowney was causing a lot of trouble for the other team's offense.

In 2008, South Pointe High School had an amazing season. They won all 15 of their games. They even won the South Carolina AAAA Division II championship. Clowney had 17 sacks that season. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

Even though many older players graduated, Clowney helped his team have a great record in 2009. He finished that season with 144 tackles and 23 sacks. A tackle is when a player stops an opponent who has the ball. In his senior year, Clowney had even more impressive stats. He made 162 tackles, 29.5 sacks, and forced 11 fumbles. A fumble is when a player loses control of the ball. He also scored five touchdowns while playing defense! South Pointe made it to the state finals again. Clowney was named South Carolina's 2010 Mr. Football, which is a big honor.

Becoming a Top Recruit

During his high school years, many people thought Clowney was the best young football player in the country. Experts like ESPN said he was a "special talent." Major recruiting services, like Rivals.com and Scout.com, rated him as the number one overall player in the 2011 class. This meant almost every top college football team wanted him to play for them.

On his 18th birthday, February 14, 2011, Clowney announced his decision on ESPN. He chose to play for the University of South Carolina. He picked them over other famous teams like Clemson and Alabama. Clowney said he wanted to play in the SEC, which is one of the toughest college football leagues.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Jadeveon Clowney DE	Rock Hill, SC	South Pointe (SC)	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	4.6	Feb 14, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 1 (DE)   Rivals: 1 (DE)  247Sports: 1 (DE)  ESPN: 1 (DE)
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

Track and Field Skills

Besides football, Clowney was also a talented athlete in track and field. He competed in sprinting events, like the 100 meters. He also threw the shot put and discus. His speed and strength helped him excel in these sports too.

College Football Career

Clowney played college football for the Gamecocks from 2011 to 2013. Their head coach was Steve Spurrier.

2011 Season: Freshman Year

As a freshman, Clowney played in all 12 games. He started the very first game of the season. This was a big deal because he was the first freshman to start on the defensive line in many years. In his first game, he had seven tackles.

A week later, he got his first college sack against the Georgia Bulldogs. Later in that game, Clowney made a huge play. He strip-sacked the quarterback, meaning he tackled him and forced him to drop the ball. His teammate picked up the fumble and ran it for a touchdown, helping South Carolina win the game.

For the whole season, Clowney had 36 tackles and 8 sacks. He also forced five fumbles. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. He was also chosen for many Freshman All-American teams.

2012 Season: Sophomore Standout

Clowney playing for South Carolina in 2012.

In his second year, Clowney became one of the best defensive players in college football. He set new school records for sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (23.5). A tackle for loss is when a defensive player tackles an offensive player behind the line of scrimmage, causing the offense to lose yards.

In a big game against Clemson, Clowney sacked their quarterback 4.5 times. This was a new record for that stadium! He won the Ted Hendricks Award as the best defensive end in the country. He was also a finalist for other major awards. He even finished 6th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which is usually given to offensive players. Fans voted him the 2012 AT&T All-America Player of the Year.

In the Outback Bowl game, Clowney made a famous hit on a Michigan running back. He hit the player so hard that his helmet came off and he fumbled the ball. Clowney recovered the fumble, which led to a touchdown for his team. This play was so amazing that it won an ESPY Award for best play in 2013.

2013 Season: Junior Year and NFL Draft Decision

After his amazing sophomore year, many people thought Clowney might win the Heisman Trophy in his junior season. He had a slower start to the season and dealt with some minor injuries, including a foot issue.

Even with injuries, he was still a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) player. After South Carolina won the Capital One Bowl game, Clowney announced that he would leave college early to enter the NFL draft.

College Statistics Overview

Professional Football Career

Before the 2014 NFL Draft, many experts believed Clowney would be one of the first players chosen. They called him a "rare talent."

At the NFL Combine in February 2014, Clowney showed off his amazing athletic skills. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, which was the fastest time for any defensive lineman. This made people call him the "most freakish physical specimen" in the draft.

Houston Texans (2014–2018)

The Houston Texans chose Clowney as the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the first defensive player to be picked first overall since 2006. In June 2014, Clowney signed a four-year contract worth over $22 million.

Clowney played his first professional game in August 2014 during the preseason. He made a tackle for a loss on the very first play. In another preseason game, he got his first professional sack.

However, Clowney's rookie regular season was cut short by a knee injury. He had surgery and only played in four games, making seven tackles.

In 2015, Clowney returned from his injury. He played in 13 games and recorded his first regular season NFL sack. He finished the season with 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

The 2016 season was a breakout year for Clowney. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro. He had 6 sacks and 52 total tackles. In a playoff game, he made his first NFL interception, helping the Texans win.

In 2017, the Texans used an option to keep Clowney on his contract for another year. He continued to make big plays, including recovering a fumble and returning it for 49 yards. He also scored his first NFL touchdown by picking up a fumble from quarterback Tom Brady. He was named to his second Pro Bowl.

Clowney playing for the Texans in 2018.

In 2018, Clowney had a strong season. In one game, he had two sacks and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. He finished the season with nine sacks and 47 total tackles.

Seattle Seahawks (2019)

In August 2019, the Texans traded Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks. In his first game with the Seahawks, he got a sack. He also made his first regular season interception and returned it for a touchdown. In another game, he forced a fumble and recovered it.

Clowney had a huge game against the San Francisco 49ers. He had a strip sack (sacking the quarterback and forcing a fumble) and recovered another fumble for a 10-yard touchdown. He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for this great performance. He was also named a Pro Bowl alternate.

Tennessee Titans (2020)

In September 2020, Clowney signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, he was placed on injured reserve in November due to a knee injury, ending his season early.

Cleveland Browns (2021–2022)

Clowney playing for the Cleveland Browns in 2021.

Clowney signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in April 2021. He had a very good first season with the Browns, playing in 14 games. He recorded 37 tackles and nine sacks, which was his most since 2018. He was also named a Pro Bowl alternate.

In May 2022, Clowney signed another one-year deal with the Browns. He played in 12 games that season.

Baltimore Ravens (2023)

On August 18, 2023, Clowney signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. He played in all 17 regular season games and started 15 of them. He finished the 2023 season with 9.5 sacks and 43 total tackles. He also had a sack in the Ravens' playoff game.

Carolina Panthers (2024)

On March 27, 2024, Clowney signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. He finished the 2024 season with 5.5 sacks and 46 total tackles. He was released by the Panthers in May 2025.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Personal Life

Jadeveon Clowney's mother, Josenna Clowney, has worked at a Frito-Lay plant since 1994. For much of his childhood, Clowney was raised by his mother and his grandparents, John and Josephine Clowney. His cousin, Demon Clowney, also plays football for the University of South Carolina.

See also

In Spanish: Jadeveon Clowney para niños