Jadeveon Clowney Dominant in South Carolina Loss to Tennessee

Oct 19, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Rajion Neal (20) is tackled by South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

The college football world will look at this game and see a huge Tennessee home upset over South Carolina. The NFL Draft world will remember this game for Jadeveon Clowney completely dominating from the defensive end position.

Clowney’s four tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss don’t do justice the performance he put forth on Saturday, completely overwhelming another first round prospect in Tennessee tackle Antonio Richardson.

Even though Tennessee got the win, NFL scouts have to be impressed with the way Clowney took this game over at times, living in the backfield with his elite and rare combination of size, speed, strength, and explosion off the snap.

Clowney even had another one of those hits like he had last year against Michigan that became so famous, just this time the ball wasn’t dislodged and no helmets were lost.

The first three plays of the game, Clowney set the tone for what he would do the rest of the afternoon. I apologize to Tennessee fans for not focusing more on the actual result of the game, but that’s not really my job here.

The top prospect in the country was on top of his game on this day, and I was absolutely impressed. It’s hard to believe Clowney could get even better as a prospect, but I don’t think the junior has even scratched the surface of what he’s capable of.

He showed reasons today why he is going to be an elite defender at the next level.