Jadeveon Clowney Reportedly Seeking $5 Million Insurance Policy on Future Career

South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney is researching the possibility of an insurance policy on his football career that would be worth up to $5 million, reports Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. 

The revelation comes just days after Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer suggested the defensive end should consider skipping his junior season with the Gamecocks in order to avoid injury and maintain his NFL draft status.

NFL rules only allow players who have been out of high school for at least three years to declare for the draft. That means Clowney must wait until at least April 2014 before he can hear his name called by a team at the next level.

It also means another season playing in the rough-and-tumble SEC. He was terrific as a sophomore, racking up 54 tackles, 23.5 of which were for a loss, and 13 sacks while helping South Carolina to an 11-2 record and a bowl victory.

Without the three-year rule, Clowney would have probably been a top prospect in this year's draft if he decided to make the jump. Teams around the league are desperate to find more pass-rushers, and he has all the tools to become an elite one.

ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Clowney would be the No. 1 pick in this year's draft if he was eligible.  

"

"Clowney's a rare talent, basically to the defensive end spot what Andrew Luck and RG III were to the quarterback position," Kiper said. "These type of prospects just don't come along very often."

"

Since that's not possible, it appears Clowney's looking for some reassurance. The Fox Sports report states that the firm Clowney's camp contacted about the insurance, Coastal Advisors LLC, has provided similar services to about three dozen other college players in the past 15 years.

Of course, the injury example everybody (including Marvez in his report) points to from recent years is Clowney's South Carolina teammate, Marcus Lattimore. A knee injury could end up costing him a high draft spot and the money that comes along with it.

If Clowney were to suffer a severe injury, there's a chance he would find himself in a similar position. Thus, at the very least, he's exploring his options to protect himself in case something does happen next season.