South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina Gamecocks

Player News

Date:
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier thinks the Texans "have" to use the No. 1 overall pick on edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

Spurrier has been critical of Clowney in the past -- most notably when he asked out of the Kentucky game due to injury, and also over the winter when discussing his work ethic -- so this isn't necessarily just a coach doing his former player a solid. "He’s a pass rusher like nobody I think I’ve ever seen in college football," Spurrier said. Whether Houston takes Clowney or trades down with a team that will, the Gamecocks' star is the prohibitive favorite to land No. 1.
Source: ProFootballTalk on NBCSports.com
Apr 24 - 8:30 PM
Bruce Ellington - WR - Gamecocks

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports that the Falcons will head to Columbia, SC to work out South Carolina WR Bruce Ellington.

"Falcons brass is heading to Columbia, SC tomorrow to work out fast-rising Gamecocks WR Bruce Ellington. They hosted his buddy Clowney Wed," Rapoport tweeted. The 5-foot-9 receiver is one of the more intriguing slot receiver/return specialists in the crop of prospects. Ellington isn't as polished when it comes to running routes as teams would like him to be, but he plays tough and has the ability to beat man on a consistent basis with his great burst. Ellington brings a ton of raw athleticism to the table, and has great vision in the open field as a ball carrier. The Falcons could be looking for a slot receiver who can stretch the field vertically, that also can contribute on special teams, like Ellington can. The South Carolina prospect could have his name called in the middle rounds of the draft.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Apr 24 - 7:38 PM
Connor Shaw - QB - Gamecocks

According to Baltimore Suns' Aaron Wilson, QB Connor Shaw has either met or worked out with the Falcons, Browns, Titans and Patriots.

Connor Shaw has generated some buzz for himself as of late. The 6-foot-0 209 pound Shaw was able to wow some folks at the combine with his speed, as he turned in the fastest 40-yard dash of any quarterback at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. His time of 4.55 seconds was one one-hundredth of a second faster than Texas A & M's Johnny Manziel. Shaw has got great touch and accuracy from the pocket and has the mobility that some of the coaches at the next level take notice of. His biggest strength moving forward is his lack of mental mistakes with the football, which is something he improved on in his career. If a team is looking for solid backup option or developmental quarterback, Shaw could be that guy. Look for Shaw to hear his name called in the 6th or 7th round of the draft.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Apr 24 - 3:22 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

NFL.com's Gil Brandt thinks that there is a "good chance" that the Texans will trade down from the No. 1 overall pick.

The former Cowboys' exec believes Houston will reprise the 2004 Eli Manning-Philip Rivers trade scenario, selecting Clowney for a different team in a predetermined trade. We're of two minds on this. Houston appeared to be all-ears to trade offers earlier in the process, but that sort of speculation died down when Jadeveon Clowney stopped working out for teams, news that many interpreted to mean he'd been guaranteed No. 1 by the Texans. Of course, Brandt's scenario still slots Clowney No. 1, so the two theories can co-exist.
Source: Gil Brandt on Twitter
Apr 23 - 11:06 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

South Carolina edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney's agent, Bus Cook, said it was totally his decision to shut down Clowney's private workouts.

Clowney drew heat for terminating any future individual workouts, but the Gamecocks' star is criticized for anything he does that doesn't conform to the idea that he's the next Lawrence Taylor. That's more a function of the way the media works than anything else. Some journalists attempted to tie the workout decision to Clowney's choice to sit out a game against Kentucky with sore ribs, but that was a flimsy argument made more suspect by Cook's assertion that he was behind the workout decision. For the record, it was an astute move. Clowney, the favorite to go No. 1, won't drop below No. 2 under any circumstances; the only way he could have affected his stock one way or the other was to shred a knee like Clemson's Brandon Thomas.
Source: ESPN.com
Apr 23 - 9:28 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

ESPN's Merril Hoge called South Carolina edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney a "very average football player."

It's great to see analysts come strong with opinions based on film study, and Hoge does that with the best of them. However, if he isn't careful with hyperbolic diction like this, people are going to stop taking his opinions seriously (if they haven't already, that is). "His fundamentals and technique really struggle," Hoge said, throwing it to the tape (available at the link below). He proceeded to show cherry-picked clips displaying "atrocious" pad level, and argued that superior NFL lineman will knock Clowney backwards. Hoge apparently believes that Clowney is only "a star" and "famous" because of his celebrated helmet-popping hit in the Outback Bowl. These are the words of a caricature.
Source: ESPN.com
Apr 23 - 8:59 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

ESPN's Todd McShay ranks South Carolina edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney as the third-best overall draft prospect in the past five years.

"Clowney is the clear-cut No. 1 prospect in this year's draft, and the most physically talented defensive lineman I've ever evaluated," the analyst wrote. "I've never given a defensive end a higher grade. He has a rare combination of size, speed, power and athletic ability." In McShay's eyes, Clowney is only behind Andrew Luck (No. 1, 2012) and Von Miller (No. 2, 2011). "If he doesn't get drafted No. 1 overall by the Texans, it's hard to see him falling past the No. 2 pick (if the Rams draft him or another team trades up to get him)," McShay wrote. "There have been work-ethic issues raised about Clowney, but I think those have been overblown. When he gets one-on-one opportunities to rush the passer in the NFL, watch out."
Source: ESPN Insider
Apr 23 - 8:12 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

South Carolina edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney and Buffalo edge rusher Khalil Mack will visit the Falcons on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport.

After adding strength and size up front, we feel the Falcons need to add one of these two prospects in this class. However, a trade up might be necessary, even all the way up to No. 2. Mack would fit nicely in Mike Nolan's multiple front defense, and Clowney could be immediately inserted on the edge.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Apr 22 - 12:33 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

An NFC executive told NFL Media reporter Albert Breer that the questions surrounding South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney are "really scary."

"What are you buying?" the NFC personnel exec told Breer. "I'm not sure. He can be a big-time player, but is he gonna be? The wiring, the motor, the questions about shutting it down -- it's really scary. It's boom or bust. I don't know how important football is to him." A different NFC executive interviewed for the same story doesn't have as many concerns about the 6-foot-6, 266-pound freak who can run a 4.53 40-yard dash. "Right now, today, he's a damn-good NFL player, no matter what," a different NFC executive told Breer. "The kid could've started in the NFL his freshman year, the way he played. It's not that he doesn't have good tape. And if you hit on him, he's Reggie White. His God-given talent is better than 99 percent of the NFL. ... He's gonna be 275 to 285 pounds, and he moves like he's 250. If you hit on him, he changes the game."
Source: NFL.com
Apr 21 - 7:23 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco tweeted "NFL personnel believe Texans will trade out of top spot."

Prisco suggest The Falcons and Bills as two possibilities to trade up to No. 1 for Jadeveon Clowney, and believes the Rams might be an option "if the offer were right." This report could go hand in hand with Peter King's, which said (via a friend of) Houston GM Rich Smith preferred Khalil Mack over Clowney.
Source: Pete Prisco on Twitter
Apr 21 - 11:20 AM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

The "prevailing thought around the league" is that Houston will "take a defensive player or look to trade out" at the No. 1, reported ESPN's Adam Schefter on NFL Live Thursday.

Schefter doesn't believe Houston will draft a quarterback first, which jives with conventional wisdom of the moment. South Carolina edge player Jadeveon Clowney ceased doing private workouts recently, leading to speculation that the Texans have settled on the Gamecocks star and perhaps told him as much. ESPN's Mel Kiper had Clowney going No. 1 and Houston grabbing Teddy Bridgewater at 33rd overall. That would be one of the great hauls in recent draft memory if the Texans can pull it off.
Source: NFL Live
Apr 18 - 12:34 AM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

Appearing Tuesday on "Schein on Sports" with NFL Media's Adam Schein, Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley mentioned that he got "a real sense" that South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney "wants to be great."

"You just get a real sense that this guy wants to be great, and to surround him with players that know what it takes, I think, will be very beneficial for him. We always look at does he have enough humility to identify his weaknesses because, if he has that, you know he has a chance to get better. And I do sense humility from him," Bradley said on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio. Gus Bradley noted that Clowney "might need direction" but said that would be "the job of his coaching staff." Bradley might not have that opportunity to coach up Clowney if the Texans or Rams beat him to it, with the first or second picks in the draft.
Source: NFL.com
Apr 17 - 4:33 PM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

Mlive.com's Kyle Meinke reports that the Detroit Lions brought South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney in for an official visit on Wednesday.

With the Lions picking at the No. 10 spot in the draft, it's interesting that they've brought in Clowney, who seems to be a lock to be drafted with one of the first three picks. The Lions have been rumored to have a soft spot for Clemson WR Sammy Watkins, who is also a top 4 talent in this years draft. Detroit could be very serious about making a move to trade up in the draft, but how far up are they willing to go? Just the thought of Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Ezekial Anzah, and Jadeveon Clowney on the same defensive front, should cause nightmares for offensive coordinators across the league.
Source: Mlive.com
Apr 17 - 11:31 AM
Jadeveon Clowney - DL - Gamecocks

NFL Media analyst Charles Davis believes the Atlanta Falcons should trade up for South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney or Buffalo's OLB Khalil Mack.

"They need a pass rusher, and there's none better this year than Clowney, but to ensure landing him, they would probably need to move up from the sixth-overall pick to No. 1," Davis wrote. "That's going to be an awfully tough, and expensive, move to pull off. If Clowney goes first to the Texans, the Falcons should shift their focus to Mack, the second-best edge rusher available." Davis mentions that Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff should target the Jaguars No. 3 selection, since his former director of player personnel, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell, could be a suitable trade partner. If the trade is too expensive for Clowney, at least the Falcons can land another defensive stud in Mack.
Source: NFL.com
Apr 16 - 4:19 AM
Victor Hampton - DB - Gamecocks

TMZ is reporting that South Carolina CB Victor Hampton and DT Kelcy Quarles are wanted by the New York City Police Department for questioning in connection to an altercation at a New York nightclub.

The incident in question took place at the Greenhouse nightclub on April 11. Details are hazy at this time, but a fight reportedly broke out in the VIP section in which three men attacked a club promoter and caused "extensive facial injuries." The NYPD told TMZ that the investigation is ongoing, and that no arrests have been made. Both Hampton and Quarles are Day 2 prospects.
Source: TMZ.com
Apr 15 - 5:51 PM

NFL Draft Headlines

View All Headlines
Headlines: NFL | MLB | NBA | NHL | GOLF | NAS | CFB | BPL


Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Video Center

  •  
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Broncos
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Broncos
  •  
    MLB: Bauer, Ozuna & more
    MLB: Bauer, Ozuna & more
  •  
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Chiefs
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Chiefs
  •  
    NFL Draft: Top Pass Rushers
    NFL Draft: Top Pass Rushers
  •  
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Chargers
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Chargers
  •  
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Raiders
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Raiders
  •  
    NFL Draft: Bortles at No. 1?
    NFL Draft: Bortles at No. 1?
  •  
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Panthers
    NFL Draft - Top Need: Panthers