Jadeveon Clowney: Dispelling the "Character Issues" Nonsense

Jadeveon Clowney is a good character guy. 

There...I said it...and it is true.

I cannot understand where all this hate is coming from. The four most common issues that people take offense to are either false or ridiculous. 

Why all the hate? For one, people will hate him because he is in the spotlight. This is always the case. Another reason? He didn't go to your school, and you are lying to yourself if you say you are glad he didn't. You aren't.

Let's take a look at some of the most talked about reasons for Mr. Clowney's so-called "Character Issues."

1. Jadeveon Clowney won't get into school. His grades are poor.

On what authority? Oh yeah...a prep school coach who wanted him on his team. The people closest to him (his high school coach, his mother, coach Steve Spurrier and himself) all say his grades are fine.

Coach Spurrier is renowned for letting people go that won't qualify. South Carolina let a 4-star linebacker go this year (he ended up in Miami) because he wouldn't get the grades. They have sent numerous players to prep school instead of allowing them to come in because of their academics. 

According to Clowney's coach, he started his freshman year with a great deal of bad grades. However, since then, he has worked his way up to a respectable average. What does that say about his character? He learned from his mistakes, and he is willing to work hard.

2. Jadeveon Clowney was disrespectful to Nick Saban!

Come on now. While what he said was not in the best of taste, he didn't call him any names, and he was trying to make a joke about Saban never giving him the opportunity to speak.

"I don’t see no big deal like everybody else. They’d say, 'He’s the king of all of football.' The guy ain’t nothing but 5'5". He’s a short guy. Everybody’s going crazy on Nick Saban.

"Nick Saban’s going to take over and talk. He talked the whole time he was there. I was dozing off. He can talk. A lot. He talked for a whole straight hour."

While in poor taste, this doesn't scream horrible human being or instant troublemaker. Also, keep in mind that these quotes are from an informal interview with a blogger.

3. He played the media and waited like a glory hog! Sign on Signing Day if you are serious about football!

First of all, he was always upfront about wanting to wait until his birthday to make his choice. He did this so he could schedule an extra couple of visits. Nowhere does it say that a student has to sign on National Signing Day.

ESPN offered him the spotlight. He said yes. While people are trying to make it out like it was some huge affair, it was no different then any other student's announcement exercise. He was set up on the school's stage with three hats on a table. A few words were spoken, and he immediately revealed his choice.

No hat switch, no jersey switch, no disrespect. He said great things about Alabama, Clemson and South Carolina, which were always the schools in the running. He never flip-flopped or wavered. What he did was a normal exercise that just happened to be a few days later than normal and on ESPN. It wasn't a glorified pep rally. 

In fact, he looked nervous. No showboating...he seemed like a kid that really wanted to get this over with.

4. His father was in prison!

Yeah. For the last 12 years. He was not an influencing factor on his life...his mother was. By all accounts, Mrs. Clowney is one of the nicest people that the coaches had the pleasure to meet. She was open and friendly. She gave her son the final choice and never pressured him.

Don't judge this book too early. He doesn't have the signs of being a basket case like people are trying to make it seem. He won Mr. SC football...an award that takes into consideration much more than just his talent. Case in point...the controversial Demetris Summers did not win the award when he was clearly one of the best players in the country (2003).

Clowney has solid character. His principal gives him glowing recommendations, and students at South Pointe love him and say that he is a great classmate.

Really...why the hate? Like it or not, Clowney will be a great player for South Carolina and will be a dominant force on the defensive line. Give him a chance in college before you start labeling him a bust.