The New Year is still young, but the football world may have already seen its best play of 2013.
In Tuesday’s Outback Bowl between South Carolina and Michigan, Gamecock defensive end Jadeveon Clowney busted through the Wolverines’ offensive line and blew up running back Vincent Smith, forcing and recovering a fumble and knocking Smith’s helmet off in the process.
Without a doubt, general managers, coaches and scouts throughout the NFL began to salivate after the hit. Unfortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs, who hold the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Clowney is only two years out of high school and is therefore not eligible to be drafted until 2014.
The hit exploded exploded on the web, making Clowney an immediate viral sensation and launching reaction from the Twitterverse.
Goddell now blaming Jonathan Vilma for the Clowney hit.
— Dennis Miller Show (@DennisDMZ) January 1, 2013
THAT’S A CLOWNEY HIT, BRO.
— Will Brinson (@willbrinson) January 1, 2013
Clowney said one of the cops assigned to SC’s sideline told him he’d be arrested if he did that in public.
— Michael Haney (@Haney1075) January 1, 2013
When the Hulk gets mad he becomes Clowney…
— The SEC Logo (@SEC–Logo) January 1, 2013
Clowney the best player in college football
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin–WVU11) January 1, 2013
Jadeveon Clowney might not win the Heisman Trophy in 2013, but there is no doubt he begins the season as college football’s best player.
— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) January 2, 2013
I think Chuck Norris just ordered a Clowney #7 jersey
— Drew Henson (@drewhenson7) January 1, 2013
Yo JADEVEON. CLOWNEY is a straight up Beast. You won’t see a better more lethal defensive blowup sack/forced fumble/recovery than that.
— Stuart Scott (@StuartScott) January 1, 2013
Jadeveon Clowney: that was a snot-bubble for the ages.
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) January 1, 2013
OMG Clowney from South Carolina Just ROCKED Smith from Michigan. One of the best defensive plays I’ve seen all year!!!!!
— Geroy Simon (@geroysimon) January 1, 2013
Clowney just made the best defensive play I think I’ve ever seen. Bring it home SEC!
— Brad Smelley (@bradsmelley) January 1, 2013
Thats it Clowney is the best College Football player… Hardest hit i ever seen..
— Mohamed Sanu (@Mo–12–Sanu) January 1, 2013
Clowney just made SO MUCH NFL MONEY.
— Justin King (@JustinKing224) January 1, 2013
If they’d cast Clowney in that 1st scene in Les Miz, the movie would have lasted 17 minutes and Anne Hathaway would still have all her hair.
— Chris Connelly (@ChrisConnelly) January 2, 2013