Jadeveon Clowney Announcement: Alabama Out, Down To South Carolina and Clemson

Jadeveon Clowney, the nation's No. 1 overall recruit and a player scouts have described as the best high school prospect in a decade, has had the attention of the media since day one.

With Clowney left as the only major recruit in the country who has not signed his letter of intent, our focus is closer than ever. 

And in the final hours of Clowney's much-anticipated  announcement, the sands have shifted drastically. Alabama is out, Clemson is in and South Carolina still leads the race. 

There's more to it, but that's the gist. The battle for Clowney has essentially come down to a backyard brawl. 

"It's not because of Alabama's legacy or anything like that," Clowney's coach at South Pointe, Bobby Carroll, said. "It's the proximity thing. He's just not sure he wants to make that long ride."

Carroll got on the phone with reporters over the weekend to discuss Clowney's situation and confirmed the long-time belief that this is South Carolina's fight to lose. 

"That's what my gut feeling is," he said. "[Clowney's] not saying a whole lot. I think he pretty much knows where he wants to go, though."

With it's strong pipeline to South Pointe, South Carolina quickly established itself as the front-runner for the local product who rose to become the top-rated prospect in the country. 

But the Gamecocks primary competition from the start was Alabama; the only other school Clowney ever called a favorite before National Signing Day. 

When Clowney announced on the morning of February 2 that he'd delay his college decision until his birthday on February 14, Clemson was nothing more than an afterthought.

By the end of the day, the Tigers had snagged two of the nation's top prospects, linebackers Tony Steward and Stephone Anthony. 

With the pair joining a Clemson recruiting class that already had as much offense talent as any group in the country, the Tigers didn't just pop up on the national radar as a team to watch out for. Clowney took notice as well. 

"I think it's tightened up a little bit," Carroll told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. "He went over to Clemson and his mom went over there and enjoyed it and had a good time just like they have everywhere.

"I think he met coach Marion Hobby and he likes the scheme they play. You know Da'Quan Bowers came in the No. 1 recruit and he's probably going to leave a No. 1 draft pick and that's kind of enticing for a kid that they've compared to Bowers. I think Clemson has a shot."

As for Alabama, it appears that more than anything, the comforts of home have narrowed things down to the in-state powerhouses for Clowney. However, the Crimson Tide's 3-4 defensive scheme didn't help things either. 

There was always speculation that Clowney was better suited as an end in a 4-3 rather than an outside linebacker in a 3-4. With Clowney himself stating the desire to play with a hand in the dirt, it became increasingly clear that Alabama simply wasn't going to hold up as an option.

Come Monday, South Carolina or Clemson will win its fortune. Prospects like Clowney don't come around often.