Jadeveon Clowney made things tougher for Johnny Manziel and the other potential No. 1 picks Monday in the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The former South Carolina star ran the fastest 40-yard time of the defensive lineman. NFL.com reported the unofficial time at 4.47 seconds. NFL Network said it was 4.53. Either way, it was still tops at his position.
“It really doesn’t matter what he runs; he’s a freak,” analyst Mike Mayock told NFL.com.
Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp called Clowney’s run “frightening.”
Said former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins on Twitter: “My boy was moving. Looked like a 4.3 to me. He might hit it next. Keep pushing bro.”
In fact, Clowney’s 40-yard dash was faster than all but one of the times posted by a current NFL starting quarterback. Robert Griffin III, who was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in 2012, ran a 4.41 in the 2012 combine.
Clowney did 21 reps at 225 pounds in the weightlifting workout, putting him in the second half of the defensive ends.
However, Mayock and Sapp both said they have concerns about Clowney’s NFL prospects.
Mayock said there are “red flags” about Clowney’s work ethic.
“He turns it on, he turns it off,” Mayock said.
Clowney skipped the field drills after the 40-yard dash with an apparent hip flexor injury.
Sapp said he’s watched Clowney on tape, saying he’s “ashamed to look at it.” The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders star added the tape made him question whether Clowney was committed to playing professional football.
Also at the combine, Michael Sam, who is trying to become the first openly gay player in the NFL, posted an unofficial 40-yard time of 4.79 seconds and did 17 reps in the 225-pound bench press, according to NFL.com. NFL Network reported the time was 4.91.
Defensive linemen who finished behind Clowney in the 40-yard dash included Bloomsburg (Pa.) University’s Larry Webster (4.58) and Shepherd (W.Va.) University’s Howard Jones (4.60). Texas’ Jackson Jeffcoat (4.63), Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald (4.68) and Louisville’s Marcus Smith (4.68) finished fourth, fifth and sixth in the group.
Clowney is looking to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The Houston Texans, who own the top pick, are owned by South Carolina graduate Bob McNair and last year drafted former Clowney teammate D.J. Swearinger in the second round.
“That’s one of my goals, to go No. 1,” Clowney told The State in Columbia, S.C. on Sunday. “I came out of high school as the No. 1 player, so I want to come out of here as the No. 1 guy.”
But the Texans haven’t determined who the No. 1 pick will be. Quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville), Blake Bortles (Central Florida) and Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) will be considered along with Clowney, who had 13 sacks as a sophomore and three as a junior last season.
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/25/2014