With seven days until South Carolina football kicks off 2025 season, a look back at No. 7, Jadeveon Clowney

South Carolina football will take the field for the first time in the 2025 season on August 31st when the Gamecocks take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That means kickoff is just seven days away.

Considering there is one player whose No. 7 jersey is retired, the choice for this countdown was an easy one. With due respect for other prominent players (such as cornerback Jaycee Horn), Jadeveon Clowney is the name that comes to mind for Gamecock fans when thinking about the No. 7.

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Clowney was the No. 1 overall prospect in the high school class of 2011. The South Pointe standout was one of a long stretch of talented players out of Rock Hill, and he picked South Carolina over offers from just about every program in the country.

The freakish EDGE rusher made waves immediately in Columbia.

Clowney started his first game in garnet and black (a win over East Carolina). Then, he made one of the biggest plays of the day in the Gamecocks’ win over Georgia, slinging quarterback Aaron Murray around like a ragdoll, forcing a fumble that led to a game-sealing Melvin Ingram touchdown. Clowney still owns the South Carolina freshman records for sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (12.0).

The 2012 season saw Clowney produce the best pass rush effort in program history. Finishing the year with 13.0 sacks (including 4.5 against Clemson, still a record in Memorial Stadium), Clowney won the Hendricks Award as the top defensive end in college football. He was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2012, including picking up some first-place votes.

The numbers weren’t as strong in 2013, but Clowney fought through injuries and double teams (and triple teams!) all season. Even so, he was an easy pick as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Though he played just three seasons in Columbia, Clowney is all over the South Carolina football record books. He ranks second in team history in tackles for loss, behind only Eric Norwood. He is also third in sacks behind Norwood and Andrew Provence. His 2012 sacks and tackles for loss totals are USC’s top single-season marks. He owns the career forced fumbles record, as well.

Clowney was a two-time All-American (including unanimously in 2012) and made the All-SEC team all three seasons as a Gamecock. He was arguably the most outstanding player on three 11-2 football teams. He also never lost to Clemson and helped Carolina to a 14-3 record against the SEC East.

The most famous moment of Clowney’s Gamecock career came in the Outback Bowl following the 2012 season. After one of the worst measurements in college football history, Michigan picked up a “first down” with a fake punt. No. 7 took matters into his own hands, exploding into the Wolverines’ backfield, leveling running back Vincent Smith, and sending his helmet flying. USC scored on the next play and won a one-possession game. Known simply as “The Hit,” Clowney’s effort was the No. 1 play on SportsCenter’s Top 10 until ESPN was forced to “retire” the play to give others an opportunity.

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Following the Houston Texans picking Clowney at the top of the 2014 draft, he has played 11 years in the NFL. If he gets picked up this preseason, he will enter year 12 as a pro. Clowney was both an All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler despite dealing with injuries throughout his career. He has logged over 100 tackles for loss at the NFL level.

The University of South Carolina retired Clowney’s jersey in 2022. He is a shoo-in for eventual induction into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame.

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