Former South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney played through a sports hernia in his last season with the school, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who says Clowney revealed the information to Gil Brandt Thursday at the rookie symposium.
Jadeveon Clowney reveals he played through a sports hernia in 2013
You can add a sports hernia to the list of injuries Jadeveon Clowney played through in his final season with South Carolina.
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Clowney had surgery for a sports hernia injury in early June, and there were talks of a potential groin injury right about the time South Carolina was hosting its pro day. Given that the first thing the Houston Texans did was get Clowney into surgery to get this taken care of, it's a smart bet that this is the same injury that we now understand plagued him while at South Carolina.
There's currently no timetable for Clowney's return from the injury, though most expect him to be back in time for training camp in July. It's worth noting that Clowney was very impressive at South Carolina's pro day and the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the aforementioned combine, and sat on most of his numbers for his pro day.
That all led to him being the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. But for awhile, his status was in question after a disappointing season. We always knew that he dealt with other injuries during his time at South Carolina, and this simply adds to the pile. Clowney missed time last season with bruised ribs, which had him in constant pain throughout games. There was also a foot injury that Clowney suggested he'd have to address in the offseason at the time.
In Clowney’s first year with South Carolina, he put up 36 total tackles, 12.0 of which were for a loss, and eight sacks. In his second year, he blew up with 54 tackles, 23.5 of which were for a loss, and 13 sacks. But his 2013 season saw a marked decrease in statistical output, with 40 tackles, 11.5 of which were for a loss, and only three sacks.
His injuries can explain away his decreased production, but that in itself is a worrying prospect. We’re not yet at a point where we can call Clowney “injury prone,” but when you’re the first overall pick in the draft, these things are of significant importance. Expect the Texans to make absolutely sure Clowney is 100 percent before letting him engage in any meaningful contact or playing time.
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